BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has made significant progress in the first year of implementing the 3-year BCEHS Action Plan.

The bold plan focuses on improving ambulance response times for life-threatening and time-critical 9-1-1 calls, and enhancing services for patients who don’t require ambulance transport to hospital.

A newly released progress report on the BCEHS Action Plan describes many of the changes that have already taken place in year 1 of the 3-year plan. Progress includes adding 127 paramedic positions, 20 dispatch positions, and 45 ambulance vehicles, as well as other investments to ensure high-quality, sustainable services.

BCEHS has also introduced innovations in its dispatch centres to improve clinical oversight and enhance the patient experience for those who have nonurgent medical issues.

The first year of implementation of the BCEHS Action Plan lays the groundwork for more service improvements in years 2 and 3. As part of year 2, BCEHS has implemented a new clinical response model and will introduce more pathways for patients to be treated in their homes and communities.

BCEHS is responsible for the delivery and governance of prehospital emergency medical care and interfacility patient transfer services through the BC Ambulance Service and the BC Patient Transfer Network. BCEHS is supported by the Provincial Health Services Authority. For more information, visit www.bcehs.ca [9].