By Kari Aston & Karla Wilson
On April 27, I was in a car accident when my Uber driver ran a stop sign, leading to an SUV T-boning us. Paramedic Mike, you held my hand all the way to the trauma bay at Vancouver General Hospital. I'll forever be grateful for your calm presence on one of the worst days of my life. As a nurse, it was hard to be on the receiving end of care, but you made it a bit more bearable. Thank you!
Rowen, via the online ‘Thank a Paramedic, Dispatcher, or Emergency Medical Call Taker’ submission form.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) plays a pivotal role in the well-being of British Columbians, offering critical emergency medical services when people need this most. Whether it’s a paramedic rushing to the scene of an accident, an emergency medical call taker providing calm guidance during moments of crisis, or a dispatcher coordinating emergency responses, BCEHS employees are often at the heart of life-saving moments.
While their work is demanding and sometimes unseen, one initiative has emerged as a powerful way for the public to express their appreciation: the "Thank-a-Paramedic, Dispatcher, or Emergency Medical Call Taker" web form. This simple online tool allows people to send their gratitude to BCEHS professionals, showcasing just how much their work is valued.
Since its launch in 2014, hundreds of submissions of thanks have poured in for BCEHS employees by patients, family members, friends, and even bystanders. In 2024 alone, BCEHS received 122 messages of thanks through this channel. This number doesn’t include emailed, mailed, or in-person acknowledgements, which come in regularly through other channels.
When the "Thank a Paramedic, Dispatcher, or Emergency Medical Call Taker” web form was introduced, its primary goal was to create a simple yet meaningful way for the public to express their appreciation. In the fast-paced and high-stress environment of emergency services, these professionals may not always hear directly from those they’ve helped. The form often bridges this gap—enabling the public to easily thank those who made a difference in their lives.
Since its inception, submissions have remained steady – with over 100 submissions annually.
On June 2, 2023, I was in a very serious hiking accident and broke my tibia and fibula. I was alone with 1% on my cell battery. Long story short, I would like to thank my rescuers - I think it was Chilliwack Search and Rescue, as well as paramedics who took me to Mission Memorial Hospital and then to Abbotsford Regional Hospital. I am so thankful I got to survive this. Thank you again. - Adrien via the online submission form
Once a member of the public submits a thank-you message, BCEHS takes several steps to ensure the appropriate recognition is given to the individual(s) involved. With support from the Patient Safety Review Office, the paramedics, call takers or dispatchers can often be identified through details in the submission. Clinical Operations Administration staff finalize the process by sending a letter of recognition to the employee(s) and their respective leaders.
BCEHS leadership is also often involved in the appreciation process. The letters of recognition also go to the Chief Ambulance Officer (CAO), who adds her acknowledgement and thanks to the employee. Some messages are forwarded to the Chief Operations Officer (COO), who will send personal notes of thanks to the employees involved.
Submissions are also posted to the BCEHS website and highlighted on the organization’s social media channels and the intranet for all employees to see.
Paramedics, dispatchers, and call takers work in high-pressure environments where every decision can have life-or-death consequences. They often face physical and emotional challenges, and the work can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. Having their efforts acknowledged by the people they serve can be a powerful reminder of the meaningful work they do, even if the appreciation comes months or even years after the event.
In May 2024, Josée submitted a thank you to Tyree Parkin of Granisle, BC, praising his work in the community.
“Tyree has shared his skills as a Tai Chi instructor and as the head paramedic for our village. Several people are taking part now, and this may be the best help for seniors or people of all ages, as preventive medicine and a lifelong skill. Thank you for adding this to the exceptional assistance from a very professional crew.”
Unit Chief Jessie Zhu was pleased to pass on the kudos.
“It is fantastic to see one of our members getting recognized for the hard work they do in the community,” Jessie says. “Tyree is our full-time community paramedic, and the Tai Chi program has been his baby ever since he started in 2019.”
Emergency Medical Dispatcher and Emergency Medical Responder Luis Arce Gerrero was also touched when he received a letter of recognition from his manager, which included an excerpt from the Thank-a-Paramedic form. The patient’s son had written in to commend the two paramedics involved in encouraging his very ill father to go to the hospital emergency room for further medical assistance.
Luis was one of the paramedics on this call and responded to his recognition letter with the following message:
“I cc’ed you in this email to express my sincere gratitude at having received this letter. While it is ultimately a small part of our day-to-day operations, some of my favourite calls to attend as a paramedic are those where relatively little is required in terms of immediate interventional treatments, but there is a component of patient advocacy that we as clinicians provide, such as in this call. This was a very sick patient who thankfully agreed to go receive treatment.
It means a lot to me to hear about this.”
The “Thank a Paramedic or Dispatcher” form has become one of the most popular public recognition programs within the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and has the highest volume of submissions.
Of course, paramedics and other BCEHS employees often receive thanks in many other formats: either in-person, through hand-written cards and letters, and at public events.
Mary Ann McKenzie and Blue Pyper of Clinton recently received thank-you cards from a young patient they had treated on a local farm. After transporting the patient to hospital, she was flown to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for further treatment.
“My daughter says out of everyone she met on this adventure, you get the #1 nicest person award,” the mother of the young patient texted Mary Ann. “Thank you for treating my girls so well when I couldn’t be there with them… I feel so relieved that the experience was filled with such good people.”
L to R: David Block, Justin Pauwels of BCEHS’ Vancouver Island Dispatch Operations Centre, and Mary Lee Block meeting in-person at a Vital Link Award ceremony in April 2023, where the Blocks were able to express profound gratitude to all those who assisted them in an emergency.
L to R: Paramedics Josh Lowery, Chelsea Smith, Lisa Salt, and Ted Ervine reading hand-written thank-you cards delivered by a patient’s family.
For BCEHS staff, messages of thanks are often a rminder of why they do what they do. For the public, they serve as a way of understanding how much they rely on the professionals who are always ready to step in when help is needed most.
When people’s lives are on the line, there’s no greater way to show appreciation than to acknowledge those who make it their mission to save others every day.
Happy Valentine’s Day to those at BCEHS who make a difference every single day in their jobs.
In June 2024 I was helping a friend repair his roof and suffered a fall. Knocked unconscious by the fall, I was rushed to Nanaimo General Hospital by ground ambulance. I was later flown to Victoria General Hospital for emergency surgery to correct a brain bleed. Thanks to lifesaving care being provided quickly, I'm happy to report I've made a full recovery. Thank you BCEHS! - Brett via the online submission form
