EMERGENCY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE

The Emergency and Protective Services Committee met on January 29, 2004 at 9:50 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton.

J. Payne presided.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

2. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

a) Election of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee Chair

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-1-2004:

That Councillor P. Palleschi be appointed as Chair of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee for a term ending November 30, 2006.

b) Election of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee Vice Chair

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-2-2004:

That Councillor M. Morrison be appointed as Vice Chair of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee for a term ending November 30, 2006.

Councillor P. Palleschi assumed the Chair to preside over the remainder of the meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-3-2004:

That the agenda for January 29, 2004 Emergency and Protective Services Committee meeting be approved.

4. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Donna Laevens-Van West, Halton-Peel Emergency Services Network Coordinator and Steve Isaak, Executive Director, Halton-Peel District Health Council, Providing an Update on the Emergency Services Network Funding Proposal

Received

Item 5b was dealt with.

5. PEEL REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICES

b) Halton-Peel Emergency Services Network Funding

RECOMMENDATION EPSC-4-2004:

That the Region of Peel contribute $5,000 per year to cost share a full-time Emergency Services Network Coordinator for the Halton-Peel District Health Council.

Steve Isaak, Executive Director, Halton-Peel District Health Council provided an overview of the Halton-Peel Emergency Services Network.

Councillor Mullin asked if there was any change in terms of ambulance personnel wait times at hospitals and if the Emergency Services Network was having any impact. Donna Laevens-Van West responded that this is an ongoing issue that is continually under review. Donna Laevens-Van West indicated that staff at every stage of the process are involved in identifying areas for improvement and are discussing strategies to address delays in the system. The Transfer of Care Protocol was noted by Donna Laevens-Van West as a response undertaken to address the ambulance off-load issue. She also noted that Regional staff have been able to get agreement with the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) to have more accurate off load times recorded which will help to quantify improvements in the system. Further, she indicated that steps have been taken to improve the management of both the discharge and admission of patients. She stated that it is difficult to quantify the impact that the Emergency Services Network has had on emergency room delays.

Councillor Mullin asked if the District Health Council had approached the new provincial government to see if more funding was available to address staffing issues in area hospital emergency rooms. Further, Councillor Mullin inquired if the District Health Council had detailed numbers that demonstrated the delays and addressed the need for additional resources. Donna Laevens-Van West indicated that the Central West Advisory Group is in support of additional resources and she indicated that she was not aware of any new direction from the recently elected government. Donna Laevens-Van West indicated that each hospital compiles its own statistics with respect to capacity issues. Steve Isaak added that the Health Council is in continuous contact with Ministry of Health staff and that there has been no change in policy. He also noted that the District Health Council continues to provide information to the Ministry of Health. Steve Isaak further noted that it is very difficult to measure the impact of the Emergency Services Network.

Councillor Mullin indicated that the District Health Council can play a very important role and will be listened to by the government. Councillor Mullin asked for information with respect to the $5,000 requested by the Emergency Services Network. Steve Isaak explained that it was the Region of Peel's annual portion of the cost for a full-time Emergency Network Coordinator. The cost of this position is shared by the ten partners of the Emergency Services Network.

Regional Chair Kolb inquired if the Emergency Services Network Coordinator was a new position and if the District Health Council had funding contributions from other agencies and local governments in the past. Steve Isaak indicated that Donna Laevens-Van West had been in the position for the past three years. Steve Isaak explained that there were examples where the District Health Council had in the past received contributions through similar funding formulas.

Regional Chair Kolb asked Donna Laevens-Van West if she could quantify the impact of her role. Donna Laevens-Van West indicated that it is very difficult to put a dollar value on her role because you cannot necessarily measure the value of all improvements benefiting every patient.

Councillor Palleschi thanked Steve Isaak and Donna Laevens-Van West for attending the meeting and suggested that the District Health Council should arrange to meet with area Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP's) as soon as possible in an effort to address ongoing issues with the health care system.

b) Dr. Sheldon Cheskes, Medical Director and Rob Theriault Paramedic Program Manager, William Osler Health Care Centre, Base Hospital Program, Providing an Overview of the Role of Fire Emergency Medical Response (EMR) and the Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP)

Received

Dr. Cheskes, Medical Director, William Osler Health Care Centre, Base Hospital Program presented information about the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) Program currently being implemented or considered by area municipal fire services.

Councillor Mullin asked if fire services adopt the EMR program, could a reduced cost in ambulance services be realized. Dr Cheskes responded that the link was not that clear, that EMR is designed to provide stabilization for the patient and to complement Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Dr Cheskes noted that the EMR program can, in certain cases, reduce morbidity by reducing the time to transfer the patient from the first responder to the Paramedic/Advanced Care Paramedic through a continuity of care.

Councillor Mullin asked if the EMR program would make a difference in the most common ambulance call. Dr Cheskes indicated that the fire EMR will be able to make a rapid assessment of the patient but is unable to deliver the medical intervention that the EMS Paramedic/Advanced Care Paramedic can.

Councillor Mullin asked if the goal was to advance fire beyond the EMR program. Dr. Cheskes responded that for now only the EMR program is being considered and that he was not aware of any successful merger of fire and ambulance services in Canada.

Councillor Mullin then addressed the area fire services and asked for their opinion of the EMR program. Brampton Fire Services indicated that they strongly supported the EMR program and had realized a significant improvement in skills which was aiding in the transfer of patients from fire to EMS personnel.

Caledon Fire Services also indicated their support for the EMR program stating they were interested in any program that could save lives.

Mississauga Fire Services noted that they have reviewed the program and are preparing to report to Mississauga Council on their findings.

Councillor Mullin asked what the status of the recognition of the EMR program was with the Province and the Ministry of Health. Dr. Cheskes responded that the arrival of an EMR does not stop the response clock, the clock only stops upon the arrival of EMS personnel. Negotiations with the Province can begin after the EMR training program has been completed. Dr Cheskes indicated that MPP's need to be informed about pre-hospital care and that talks with the Minister must occur. Dr. Cheskes stated that EMR could possibly stop the response clock in the future.

Councillor Morrison stated that she was pleased that efforts were being made to have the EMR stop the clock. Councillor Morrison noted that the Region has added significant resources to the system in an effort to meet the response times mandated by the Ministry.

c) Peter Dundas, Director, Ambulance and Emergency Programs and Sharon Walker, Emergency Management Coordinator, Ambulance and Emergency Programs, Presenting a Status Update of the Region's Legislative Requirements under the Emergency Management Act, 2003.

Deferred to the April 29, 2004 EPSC meeting

5. PEEL REGIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICES

a) Paramedic Appreciation and Awards Night

Received

b) Halton-Peel Emergency Services Network Funding

This item dealt with earlier in the meeting

c) Communciation: Kathryn Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board, Letter dated January 7, 2004, Advising of Closure of Judson Ambulance Supply Centre and Other Critical issues Regarding Land Ambulance Provisions

Received

6. EMERGENCY PROGRAMS

a) Power Failure, Emergency Response

Received

b) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Declared Emergency Response

Received

7. POLICE SERVICES BOARD PROTOCOL

8. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 1:30
Regional Council Chambers
5th Floor
10 Peel Centre Dr., Brampton, Ontario

9. OTHER BUSINESS

Councillor Morrison asked staff what steps were being taken to prepare for a possible avian flu pandemic and to report back to a future EPSC meeting with further information. Peter Dundas, Director, Ambulance and Emergency Programs indicated that staff is continually receiving updates on the avian flu outbreak and respiratory cases of interest. This information is being communicated to all frontline staff on a regular basis. Peter Dundas noted that protocols are in place currently to address respiratory infection concerns.

Regional Chair Kolb requested that Ambulance and Emergency Staff work with the Region's Medical Officer of Health to provide information on the avian flu to the local agricultural community.

Councillor Palleschi inquired about the closure of the Judson Street facility. Peter Dundas indicated that the facility was to close the end of March 2004 and that there has been no commitment from the government to keep this facility open. Peter Dundas indicated that the Region has secured suppliers and would not be impacted by the closure of the Judson Street facility.

Councillor Palleschi asked if the Region had taken any steps in support of the communication from Kathryn Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board. Kent Gillespie, Commissioner of Corporate Services and Regional Solicitor, indicated that Regional Council had not passed a resolution to support keeping the Judson facility open. Councillor Palleschi asked staff to provide a resolution in support of the issues raised in the communication from Kathryn Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board.

Peter Dundas, Director, Ambulance and Emergency Programs, demonstrated the Automatic Vehicle Locators (AVL) system recently installed on all Regional ambulances. To meet provincial funding deadlines the purchase and activation of this system was required by the Ministry of Health and will be utilized by the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC). The Ministry will provide partial reimbursements, up to 50% of actual costs, but currently no funding is available to off set the operation (or air time) of the system. Costs to the Region were reduced by entering a purchase and installation agreement with the City of Ottawa standing AVL proposal.

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:33 a.m.