Posted on Aug 24, 2023 by Maxim Ouellette-Legault
It is out of concern for the health and comfort of their patients that Ambulance Y. Bouchard & fils inc. recently equipped its fleet with new stretchers.
“The mechanical system, three quarters of ambulances in the Laurentians have it. What sets us apart today is the stretcher. We are the first in the Laurentians to have such a stretcher,” says Marc Paquette. Pictured, from left to right: Marc Paquette, Luc Bouchard and Caroline Sarrazin. We find on the left the new model of stretcher, while the old model is on the right. (Photo L’info de la Hare – Maxim Ouellette-Legault)
It is with an investment of $450,000, made voluntarily by the company, that Ambulance Y. Bouchard & fils inc. acquired this new equipment to improve its ambulances.
The announcement of these acquisitions was shared at L’info.
Marc Paquette emphasizes that “No one is forcing us to invest in new stretchers. It is an investment of the company for the well-being of the patient. These are still major investments in the health network made by private individuals”.
More practical stretchers
Before that, the company used stretchers that were over fifteen years old. Even though these stretchers represent the standard of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), the company decided to go further.
These stretchers had to be handled by 2 paramedics at the same time and weighed between 120 and 150 pounds, even before placing a patient on them. “If we embark someone weighing 150 pounds, the load is not far from 325 pounds”, illustrates Marc Paquette.
The old stretchers were also less wide. Some patients who had hip problems injured themselves there.
The new stretchers, on the other hand, have many advantages that the old ones did not have. Now only one person is required to handle the stretcher. A mechanism equipped with a slide allows you to take the weight of the stretcher, which is easily inserted into the rear of the vehicle. “During this time, the other paramedic can already start treatment. We win at all levels,” notes Marc Paquette.
In addition to being more comfortable, retractable and safer for the patient and for the paramedic, the new stretchers can be easily inserted into elevators, something that the old ones could not do.
How do ambulances work?
Ambulance Y. Bouchard & son inc. has about fifty employees and has a fleet of 7 vehicles, while it is between 5 and 6 teams per day that are on the road.
Among these 7 vehicles, there is one in the La Vérendrye fleet and there are two replacements.
Ambulances cover 75% of the territory of the MRC of Antoine-Labelle. They go as far as kilometer 141 of Chemin de Parent, the northernmost point, as far as the village of Notre-Dame-de-Pontmain, the southernmost point. On average, 3,200 interventions per year are carried out by ambulances, with an average of 3,000 transports annually.
However, Bouchard ambulances are not confined to their territory. According to Marc Paquette, between 15% and 20% of calls result in patient transfers to the outside, for care that is not given here.
According to the ambulance service contract determined by the ministry, the latter must be available for any emergency on the territory of Quebec. To illustrate this, Marc Paquette explains that sometimes Bouchard ambulances respond to calls outside their territory, such as in Grand-Remous or during a return transfer to Montreal.
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