The Virtual Emergency Care and Transport Resource Centre (VECTRS), has established processes to evaluate and prioritize all interfacility transport requests. Through VECTRS, all transports are reviewed and triaged for acuity so each movement can be prioritized, based on the patient need.

The current wildfire state of emergency in northern MB has put demands on the overall health care system, in particular the finite ERS transport resources used to move patients and personal care home residents.

The evacuation demands means that the same finite medevac resources used on a daily basis have increased requests for transport. As a result, there is a risk that patients that are being moved for routine diagnostics or care, may experience a delay in transport.

The VECTRS transport score is used to prioritize patient movement based on clinical need. A life safety threat due to the wildfires may also result in an escalated priority for a transport.
Throughout this evacuation, where possible, ERS has utilized additional air and ground resources to support evacuation activities. However, despite these best efforts, there may be times when demands for resources exceeds supply.

Printable version of the Allocation of Air Resources During Wildfire Response Memo.

Submitted by Tamara Burnham, Collaborative Practice Lead