WOODLANDS COUNTY – Glenda Farnden, Senior Municipal Relations Liaison for STARS, made a presentation to the Woodlands Council regarding the County’s annual statistics on Nov. 20.
Farnden spoke about the STARS incident numbers in Woodlands County.
“These are the missions that have been flown within your county, an overall average of about 13 missions per year,” stated Farnden.
“You're (Woodlands County) ideally located where you are served by two different stars bases both Grand Prairie and Edmonton.”
The statistic chart showed STARS responding to one critical incident near Fort Assiniboine this year.
There were three critical incidents in that area in the previous year. In the Woodlands County area near Neerlandia there has not been a critical incident where STARS was called since 2022.
In the Blue Ridge area there has not been a critical incident where STARS was called since 2021.
“We have now secured another long term 10-year service agreement with Alberta Health Services moving forward,” stated Farnden.
She indicated that in the new agreement STARS receives $15 million per year which is almost double what they previously were supporting.
That covers 40 per cent of the STARS budget.
The other 60 per cent is covered by municipality rates of support.
Woodlands County has been a STARS partner at a fixed rate of support which is based on $3 per capita at $14,250 per year.
“Our air medical crew are both cross trained for each other advanced life support paramedic as well as the ICU critical care nurse.
They are both cross training for each other’s roles,” said Farnden.
STARS can use different modes of transportatio - not all calls are responded to by helicopter.
STARS is averaging 11 missions per day across Alberta. In the last fiscal year there were over 37,000 emergency requests.
In Alberta there were more than 60,000 missions flown now since inception in 1985.
Annually the emergency requests breakdown to an average about 20 per cent cardiac and stroke types of missions, 20 per cent is vehicle incidents, 20 per cent would be for any other medical incidents as well as trauma is about 20 per cent, according to Farnden.
“There is a new medication now that we have added for hemorrhage control. Previously I've always reported that we carry 2 units of universal blood on board,” remarked Farnden.
“We have seen so many massive trauma cases that we've increased to carrying 4 units of universal blood.”
“As we move forward stars is now providing physical as well as virtual care,” stated Farnden.
“That's a huge asset to your community. They can actually have critical care provided virtually to that to help assist with patient for procedural guidance. We're so proud to be able to say that we've continued to maintain a charitable model. No cost to the patient and that has only been possible because of hardships together we are doing something very special for all Albertans.
“Next year we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary of serving Albertans. 40 years of providing critical care anywhere.
"Worst case scenario, STARS is the best hope,” said Farnden.
