Paramedic Services Week

To kick off Paramedic Services Week, we’re sharing a conversation we had with Emergency Response Services’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rob Grierson.

What’s the best part of your job?

“The people. When you have like-minded healthcare providers headed in the same direction, all focused on improving patient care, great things can happen.”

What do you wish patients knew about heart attacks?

“Calling 911 is the right thing to do. You might think it’s nothing serious - and you might be right. But you also might be having a heart attack. Heart attacks are real, common, and dangerous. Don’t deny your symptoms. We’re here to help, so let us help you.”

Describe your job and the work you do.

“As an Emergency Room Physician, I’m the doctor you’re seeing when you come to the ER. With Emergency Response Services (ERS), I’m working to improve the care provided when someone calls 911. In the ER, I’m helping maybe a handful of patients per day. With ERS, I can help thousands of people in different parts of the province simultaneously.”

How do paramedics contribute to heart attack care?

“When someone calls with heart attack symptoms, paramedics treat it as a heart attack until proven otherwise. They’re crucial in heart attack care - they do the first assessment, perform the ECG, and initiate the Code STEMI process to get you the help you need. The Code STEMI protocol wouldn’t happen without paramedics.”

What’s been your role in the Dial, Don’t Drive campaign?

“I’m a liaison between ERS and the ACS Network. We’ve been working hard, and we have Dial, Don’t Drive decals up on all Manitoba ambulances. The pandemic really revealed the Achilles Heel of the healthcare system, so we need to act to see change while encouraging others to do the same. Even if we can get the rate of people calling 911 for a heart attack from 30% up to 50%, I’d consider that a win.”

Thank you, Rob, for all of the work you do to advocate for better patient care!