STARS Air Ambulance will be serving the province for another decade.
On Tuesday Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement saying that it is important Albertans have access to the “best-quality health care” regardless of where they are located.
“No matter where they are in our province, and STARS helps us provide that. Through STARS, we are better able to connect Albertans in rural and remote communities to critical health care services, improving patient outcomes and providing assurance to families,” Smith says.
Air ambulances play an important role in the healthcare system because they can serve as lifelines and bridge service gaps with those in emergencies in remote or rural communities. They also can provide quick response when it comes to transporting patients to medical facilities which can be the difference between life and death for some patients.
President and CEO of STARS Katherine Emberly says the support of the province is appreciated as it helps them provide life-saving care across the province for many years to come.
“Our roots run deep in Alberta, and for nearly 40 years, we’ve relied on the unwavering support from our government partners and the communities we serve to grow, evolve and deliver on our mission, every day,” Emberly says.
The new contract focuses on setting new standards for emergency medical response and improving patient outcomes by strengthening and stabilizing the province’s air ambulance services. STARS has bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie and STARS crews are made up of specially trained flight paramedics, flight nurses and transport physicians.
