About Us

PAST

Ken Marshall began Marshall's Ambulance Care (MAC) in 1964 with very little equipment, very little training, and one station wagon serving as an ambulance.  His son, Gordon, who took over for Ken was on the very first call.  MAC bought their first real ambulance in 1968, progressing from a station-wagon type, to a low-rise van, to a high-rise van, to a modular.  They started with a fleet of one ambulance progressed to two, then three and then four ambulances.  

In the mid-1970's MAC organized their first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, followed by a second EMT course in the mid 1980's.  From the very beginning the ambulances were staffed with people with first aid training partnered with RN's or CNA's (now LPN's).  Some of the original staff took both EMT courses and were joined by several others in the second course.  After the second EMT course MAC could boast a high level of care with their crews of EMT's and RN-EMT's and were already being recognized provincially as a progressive ambulance service.  

In 2001 our former health region allowed MAC to provide the next level of care with Intermediate EMT's which added a significant benefit to patient care and treatment.  Over the next few years the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics came into being and EMTs became known as Primary Care Paramedics, Intermediate EMTs became Intermediate Care Paramedics and the highest level of road ambulance paramedic, the Advanced Care Paramedic.  Currently we have two full-time Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP), and two staff members who have just started the two year ACP training program.  We are progressing towards a full advanced care paramedic service and we hope to accomplish this, with the support of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, by 2021.  

PRESENT

On July 1, 2018, Duane and Jennifer Larre purchased Marshall's Ambulance Care from Gordon and Joanne Marshall.  The relationship between the two couples goes back much further than the purchase date of the company.  Duane and his family have been residents of St. Walburg since 1906 with his great-grandfather immigrating to the area from France.  The Larre's have farmed south of St. Walburg since their arrival in Canada and still do to this day.  Duane's grandfather, Joe, was a good friend of the Marshall family for many years.  This relationship has continued to pass down through the generations.  Jen moved to St. Walburg in July of 2005 after accepting her first paramedic job with Marshall's Ambulance Care.  Jen earned her Primary Care Paramedic certificate earlier that year.  In 2007, Jen furthered her career by enrolling in the Intermediate Care Paramedic Program.  After completion she worked with MAC, full-time for a few years before taking on a casual position with the company while her and Duane's family expanded.  Even though the owners of the company have recently changed, you can still expect the high level of professionalism, quality of service and care that you have come to expect.

WestMed Paramedics Inc. provides high quality Basic and Advanced Life Support pre-hospital emergency care to residents within an area of about 12,000 square kilometers which consists of:

     * from the north: the entire Rural Municipality (RM) of Loon Lake and a southwest section of the RM of Beaver River on a line that runs along the south border of the Mudie Lake First Nation

     * from the west: the entire RM of Frenchman Butte (excluding the Onion Lake First Nation) and the portion of the RM of Brittania that runs from the Deer Creek Bridge to the Hillmond intersection on Hwy 3,

     * from the south: the entire RM of Mervin

     * from the east: the portion of the RM of Parkdale starting just east of Fairholme on a north/south line to the RM boundaries.

     * all towns, villages, First Nations, hamlets, resorts, etc. located in the above RM's.

WestMed Paramedics works under contract with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and is an active member of the Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan.

WestMed Paramedics offers Basic and/or Advanced Life Support service.  We employ staff with the following classifications and training:

Primary Care Paramedics (PCP)
The role of a PCP is to provide a more advanced basic life support treatment to assess, stabilize and prevent further injuries to the patient.  Skills include trauma, medical and cardiac care, airway management and medication administration.

Intermediate Care Paramedics  (ICP)
The ICP has obtained enhanced training and skills beyond the PCP level as an intermediate health care team member working in the field of pre-hospital emergency care. ICP’s have completed training in such areas as cardiac monitoring, intravenous (IV) initiation and an expanded scope of medication administration.

Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP)
ACP's are the highest trained ambulance practitioners and are an integral part of the prehospital emergency environment.  The ACP is trained in advanced life saving procedures; their skills include advanced cardiac life support, advanced airway management, advanced medical and trauma management and enhanced medication administration along with many other specialized procedures. The ACP works in conjunction with provincial protocols under the supervision of a local medical control officer (physician).  

PCP's and all other levels of paramedics are licensed by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics to practice in the Saskatchewan ambulance industry.

We carry the latest equipment and have skilled personnel ready to assist you with any medical emergency.  

In order to maintain their licence to practice, all paramedics must complete annual continuing medical education and mandatory skills training as determined by the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.

Medavie West, in Saskatoon, dispatches our ambulance service using the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.  

When you dial 9-1-1 you will be asked, "Police, Fire Ambulance, what is your emergency?"  When you reply, "Ambulance"," your call will be immediately transferred to our dispatch centre.  The first question asked of any caller is, "What is your location?"  Immediately upon receiving more detailed location information and the patient's chief complaint an ambulance will be dispatched.  Further information about the call is then obtained and, if possible, the dispatcher will stay on the phone with the caller until the ambulance arrives.

The First Responder Group for your area will be dispatched immediately after the ambulance is notified.