Ambulance computer system needs emergency help
Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 10:40 PM CT
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A computer system described as the information backbone for Saskatchewan's ambulance service system could fail at any time, a report released Thursday says.
The Provincial Ambulance Information System, or PAIS, maintains records for all patient transports in Saskatchewan and is considered a vital tool for monitoring how ambulance calls are handled.
However, the system dates to the early 1990s and, according to the report, was not designed to host the information it now stores and administers.
"Failure of this system is a real risk," said the report's author, consultant Don Cummings. He recommended the system be replaced.
The aging computer system was one of several findings in the report, which recommended a number of changes to Saskatchewan's emergency medical services system.
It noted that the province does not have set response times for emergency services, although some standards have been suggested as targets in the past.
One generally accepted industry standard, known as 8-59, was measured by the consultant.
That standard, for urban areas, says that an ambulance should arrive on the scene of an urgent case in eight minutes and 59 seconds, nine times out of 10.
The report found that Moose Jaw and Melfort exceeded that standard. Regina met the standard and Saskatoon was just under the standard.
In rural areas, the suggested standard for arrival of EMS is 30 minutes.
The report looked at rural responses and found that about 45 per cent of calls were handled within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, it found, 85 per cent of calls had been answered.
The report was commissioned by the Ministry of Health. It was published Thursday and the public was invited to comment on its recommendations and findings.
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