38 Card Concerns Update

Through the advocacy of front line staff, in conjunction with the work of the EZ EMS JWHS Committee and CCC Dispatch - EMS Liaison Committee, excellent progress is being made on resolving concerns with the current use of the 38 Card.

The Employer has heard our safety concerns and is working on dialing back the applicability of 38 Cards to only when Law enforcement (in Edmonton Metro - EPS and Peace Officers - Fun fact this also includes West Edmonton Mall Security officers as they are trained as Peace Officers) are physically on scene requesting EMS.

No more 4th party, we saw it on a camera, nor Commissionaires who have no legislative ability nor duty to intervene.

This will greatly reduce the safety risk to staff attending these events

The other concern that was brought forward were delays in patient care. Staff reported numerous events at transit stations where there were delays getting EFD / Extra resources attached to 38 cards with CPR in progress, or events that turned out to be cardiac arrests. Dispatch is working to put EFD back on the 38 card to come and assist us.

EFD’s primary concern was responding to shelters where medical staff are already providing patient care, and to deal with this concern Dispatch is looking at using a different and more appropriate coding, possibly the 33 card.

There is still work and conversations that need to occur in the background, but expect to see this resolved in the near future. Please take this as evidence that MSNs, RLSs, and CCC Forms can effect change.