EMS response to deadly Calgary dog attack under investigation
Posted Jun 17, 2022 4:13 pm.
Last Updated Jun 17, 2022 4:14 pm.
The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) is leading an investigation into the EMS response to a deadly dog attack that killed an 86-year-old woman in Calgary on June 5.
On June 8, Alberta Health Services (AHS) said the 86-year-old waited 30 minutes for an ambulance and that the 911 call was initially treated as non-life-threatening. On June 9, AHS said an independent review would be carried out.
The HQCA says it’s looking into the “structure, processes, and protocols of the EMS response” to figure out why there was a 30-minute-delay. The independent review will also be led by Kevin Smith, Systems and Strategy Officer with B.C. Emergency Health Services, as well as Kim Ridgen-Briscall, Associate Director of the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch.
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“We are pleased to lead this review,” said Charlene McBrien-Morrison, CEO of HQCA. “The HQCA will bring an objective, evidence-based analysis. We will identify if there are broader health system factors that contributed to the incident and will make recommendations for any improvement opportunities.”
The results of the investigation will be shared publicly when they are completed by September of this year.
