“If I could change one thing about the healthcare system, I would work on finding a way to serve rural communities and First Nations better.
– Jacob wallman, mtcc system status controller
Jacob Wallman, Manitoba Transportation Coordination Centre (MTCC) System Status Controller (SSC), has always had an interest in public safety, and was taking the Emergency Medical Response (EMR) training in 2020 when he met trainees from MTCC. They pushed him to apply for a position with MTCC and he eventually accepted a role after attaining his license and recertifying in 2023.
“I have been working at MTCC for two years, and I enjoy how every day is so different. The job changes all the time, which keeps it very exciting, and it’s easy to keep going when you feel like you’ve helped someone. Even if it isn’t the feeling you get after every call, at least one call a day, you get to feel like you helped someone when they really needed it. That’s a great feeling.”
Jacob is the first point of contact for most patients in need of emergency health care.
“We help patients and bystanders provide emergency care to themselves and others while waiting for EMS, and we arrange EMS to and from 911 calls. We also coordinate Inter-Facility Transports to ensure patients get the help they need, whether that’s transport to routine follow-up appointments or critical patients going by STARS air ambulance.”
Jacob says one of his most exciting moments to date was helping a family deliver their baby in the backseat of their car.
“It was a very stressful, but very exciting moment, and that helped me realize I made the right choice, even though sometimes, this can be a very tough job. We cover the entire province outside of Winnipeg, so whether you are needing help in Brandon or Churchill, we are here to help. And when we are working short-staffed, it can be difficult to manage the stress of knowing you are behind on answering radios, emergency calls, and other lines.”
According to Jacob, the most frustrating parts of his job are watching a call ring too long due to staffing shortages and seeing EMS responding from far away due to paramedic staffing shortages. He also notes that ambulances often have to transport patients even farther away due to nursing, physician, and bed shortages at nearby hospitals.
“If I could change one thing about the healthcare system, I would work on finding a way to serve rural communities and First Nations better. It’s very frustrating that some people have to travel so far for basic medical care, or they have to rely on the EMS system to provide the care they should be able to get from a walk-in or minor injury clinic. That care is just not available to them.”
Jacob says he enjoys spending his summers working on and riding his motorcycle, as well as going out hiking exploring Manitoba.