NDP Convention to Debate EMS

Of the fifty resolutions pertinent to health care that will be presented for debate at the NDP Convention in Winnipeg this weekend, 7 are related directly to emergency medical services. Two call for government to subsidize the cost of basic ambulance fees, one asks the NDP to legislate the placement of AEDs in government and public locations, and another put forth by the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) calls for increased funding for training and education of EMS personnel.

Two resolutions are of particular interest to me...one seeks support for paramedic self-regulation and the other urges the NDP government to establish a provincial operational model for EMS. They read as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Manitoba NDP Government enact legislation to give paramedics the ability to self regulate.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this convention urge the NDP to ensure, endorse and establish, while in government, a provincial EMS program under the control and direction of a central/provincial operational model that provides consistent, uniform, quality patient care on an equal basis for all Manitobans.

Interestingly enough, the MFL also submitted a resolution dealing with EMS service delivery. While it doesn't specifically seek a provincial oversight body, it does ask that the government "ensure our emergency medical services provide consistent, uniform, quality patient care on an equal basis for all Manitobans."

Acceptance of these resolutions at the weekend Convention by no means forces the government to act accordingly. But it does send a very clear message to the NDP about what's important to party members. I encourage anyone planning to attend the Convention to ensure your voice is heard.. as a party member but even even more importantly as a paramedic trying to do the best job you can for your patients.

"Ambulance Drivers" Good Enough for Municipal Politicians?

A recent story in the Virden Empire-Advance, a weekly newspaper serving the Virden area, is indicative of how much old-fashioned thinking still exists in the political arena, especially in many southern Manitoba municipalities.

The article, (Ambulance Agonies, written by Brent Fitzpatrick), which appeared in the Virden Empire-Advance on Saturday, January 20 says many of the local politicians in that area think the new training requirements for ambulance attendants in Manitoba "go too far". Oak Lake mayor Jeff Sigurdson says "They are pretty much getting a doctor to do volunteer work." Roland Gagnon, mayor of Elkhorn suggests that if local residents can't just be a driver anymore it may be "tough to have people come forward to volunteer to be an ambulance attendant." R.M. of Pipestone Reeve Ross Tycoles adds "Something needs to be done now...we're going to push for a group meeting with the RHA."

For a politician at any level of government to think that education for EMS providers in this province should be dictated by the ability to recruit volunteer ambulance drivers is inconceivable! It takes us back twenty, thirty, maybe even forty years...to the days when an ambulance was nothing more than a quick ride to a hospital. Unfortunately this thinking isn't limited to one or two municipal officials. I've heard it from councillors, mayors, reeves...even some MLAs. For reasons that are absolutely mind-boggling to me, they argue that improvements that have been made to EMS in Manitoba over the past few years have done nothing more than eliminate opportunities for local residents to volunteer for the ambulance service.

There's no doubt that the education requirements set out in the new regulations may necessitate the need for a strategic review of how best to ensure Manitobans have access to EMS on a timely basis. But this article clearly suggests that too many of the people tasked with governing our communities still understand very little about paramedicine and the very real benefit a strong pre-hospital service brings to their residents.

Your local politicians need to understand that changes to training requirements for ambulance attendants won't spell the end of service for some smaller communities...they will ensure that residents in all Manitoba communities have access to appropriate emergency health care when they need it most. Volunteers built our EMS system, and they struggled to hold it together for decades. But to even suggest that we should return to a system that relies on community volunteers trained in emergency first aid as a foundation around which to build an EMS system scares me...and I was one of those volunteers!

I encourage you to contact your local government officials and see where they stand on this issue...especially if you live in the Virden area!

To download a pdf copy of the article from the PAM website click here. The quality of this pdf file is poor, but it's worth reading anyway.

Our letter to the Editor of the Virden Empire-Advance can be viewed here. This was copied to the governments quoted in the article as well as to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities.

Recent Event Supports Need for Blood Samples Legislation

Media reports relating to the December police shooting on Jubilee Avenue in Winnipeg clearly support the need for some form of Blood Samples legislation in Manitoba. According to CBC news, the bullet that injured one the police officers in that incident was contaminated with blood after having passed through the suspect's hand and ricocheted into the officer's leg. Winnipeg police have now requested a warrant demanding a blood sample from the suspect to test for the possibility of infectious disease.

In September of 2003, the Paramedic Association of Manitoba wrote to the provincial Justice Minister asking the government to consider the development of blood samples legislation as recommended by a national Joint Working Group. The Minister at that time, Gord Mackintosh, replied saying that he agreed with the need for such legislation and hoped to have it in place the following year. In August of 2004 the Paramedic Association of Manitoba was asked by the provincial government to host a meeting of interested stakeholders for input into what this legislation should look like. Correspondence from government officials subsequent to that meeting indicated the provincial government planned to introduce blood samples legislation in late 2005.

Much to our surprise and disappointment, Health Minister (at the time) Tim Sale announced in November of 2005 that proposed legislation dealing with mandatory blood testing would not proceed as promised, due to concerns raised by certain human rights organizations. Despite our contention that government owed it to every first responder, paramedic, police or corrections officer, firefighter and Good Samaritan to ensure their rights were respected and upheld, the government refused to move forward in this area.

The very fact that Winnipeg Police have found it necessary to try to obtain a warrant for blood testing in this case supports the demand for legislation of mandatory blood testing in certain situations. The Paramedic Association of Manitoba will renew our argument for blood samples legislation in an effort to ensure a process is put in place that provides protection and reassurance to anyone that finds themselves facing the uncertainty and potential health risks associated with a potentially harmful exposure.

Manitoba Conservative Health Policies

Manitoba PC Health Critic Myrna Driedger has prepared a discussion paper entitled "Public Services That Work:Innovation That Delivers Results" which undoubtedly will form the basis of the Conservative health policy going into the next provincial election. This document is available for viewing on the PC Manitoba web site.

Last week I was given a copy of this document by the Conservative Party and asked to comment on the accuracy of information relative to EMS. In October of last year we met with Ms. Driedger and PC Leader Hugh McFadyen to discuss issues related to emergency medical services in Manitoba (October 23, 2006). At that time we talked about the varied and inconsistent service delivery models within the 11 RHAs, and the need for a more centralized management model for EMS in the province. While somewhat vague in terms of how they would work to achieve that goal, they have acknowledged our input and the need for improvement in this area.

Another concept we presented to the Conservatives was strengthening the role of paramedics in our health care system as well as utilizing our profession in non-traditional EMS initiatives (community health programs, in-hospital care, etc). That too is discussed in Ms. Driedger's paper, although mention of expanding scopes of practice for health care providers falls well short of identifying paramedics as a critical human resource within the health care system.

There is one very disappointing comment made in Ms. Driedger's discussion paper, and it's a theme that's been expressed to me by many rural Conservative MLAs in the past. To state that "Access to ambulance services has become more difficult for some communities which, due to enhanced training requirements, can no longer operate volunteer paramedic services" (page 13) certainly suggests there is a philosophy amongst some Conservatives that our role is still nothing more than that of an "ambulance driver".

We should appreciate the fact that the Conservative Party has asked for our input, and I will convey that to Ms. Driedger when I respond with my comments. While we may take exception to some of the content, the fact that we have been consulted tells me that we are seen as a valuable resource and stakeholder. I encourage you to visit the PC Manitoba web site and review this discussion paper. Send me your thoughts...and better yet, send them to the Conservative nominee in your riding.

EMS on NDP Convention Agenda

The Manitoba NDP Party will hold their 2007 Convention at the CanadInns Polo Park in Winnipeg on February 2 – 4. Much of the weekend will be spent debating resolutions intended to help shape NDP party position and actions for their future. It’s my understanding that a number of EMS based resolutions will be presented for deliberation. Of particular interest to me, and I expect all Manitoba paramedics, are proposals related to self-regulation and improvements in EMS service delivery.

Early in 2006, the Manitoba Young New Democrats (MYND) passed a resolution calling on the Government to create a provincial authority that would support consistent and provincially recognized standards of care. Later in the year, delegates at the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) Convention called on their organization to lobby Government to “ensure EMS becomes a provincial program that provides consistent, uniform, quality patient care on an equal basis for all Manitobans”. Both, I expect, sent a very clear message to Government regarding the need for improvements to our EMS system.

While the Paramedic Association of Manitoba is a non-partisan organization, I think it’s necessary that we support initiatives that promote excellence in pre-hospital emergency health care and within our profession. That, after all, is the very essence of who we are and why our association exists.

I anticipate receiving copies of the resolutions that will be presented at the NDP Convention sometime later this month. When I do I’ll post them for everyone’s consideration. I encourage paramedics who are affiliated with the NDP party, and especially those who may be attending their upcoming Convention, to ensure this government continues to receive a clear message indicating the need for system improvements and paramedic self-regulation.

Tories Support Self-Regulation...for Therapists

Manitoba Conservative MLA for Minnedosa, Leanne Rowat, has spoken out encouraging the NDP government to support regulatory legislation for athletic therapy. In a news release issued January 17th, she describes the need for specialized health professionals such as athletic therapists to be recognized in Manitoba’s health care system, and asks that they be included in proposed new legislation that would cover all health professions in Manitoba. Ms. Rowat's news release can be found on the Conservative party web site.

The Manitoba government is currently in the process of consulting with the province's 20 existing self-regulating health organizations (College of Physicians and Surgeons, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, etc) with the intent of developing umbrella legislation to cover all health professions. Once completed, a single Act would legislate all regulated health professions in Manitoba, each group with their own set of regulations specific to that profession. This Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative is expected to be completed within the next 12 - 15 months.

In March of 2006, the Paramedic Association of Manitoba asked Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen if he would support self-regulation for paramedics. In a written response he indicated that he would be open to exploring that option, and again supported that position when we met with him in early October of last year. Yesterday I congratulated Ms. Rowat for her initiative in calling for the inclusion of athletic therapy as a recognized health profession, and reminded Mr. McFadyen and Ms. Myrna Driedger (Health Critic) that "It is our hope that Manitoba Conservatives will continue to appeal for the inclusion of legitimate health professions in new legislation, including paramedicine, as the government undertakes their Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative".

I encourage you to write to your provincial MLA (copied to the Paramedic Association of Manitoba) and ask that they support the recognition of paramedicine as a health profession within any new Health Professions legislation, and also that they support self-regulation for paramedics in Manitoba. Contact information for your MLA can be found on the Manitoba Legislature web site.

Back to Blogging

I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry!

It's been over six weeks since I last posted on my Blog. I'd like to blame that lost time on the hectic holiday season, but that probably won't cut it. So suffice it to say that my New Years resolution will be to ensure that a similar incident doesn't happen again!

The fact that I haven't posted lately doesn't mean that the Association hasn't been busy. December was a very busy month for the Paramedic Association of Manitoba despite the holiday season. We were invited early in the month to meet with the Premier's Chief of Staff, Michael Balagus, to discuss preliminary plans to allow memorial monuments to be erected on the legislative grounds. More importantly, this meeting provided us an opportunity to bring other issues directly to the attention of the Premier's office...issues that we've been trying to elevate to that level with very limited success for some time now. I also had opportunity in December to meet once again with staff in Minister Oswald's office to talk about problems with service delivery, including the frequency with which Winnipeg has "run out of ambulances" in recent weeks and months.

Jodi and I met with representatives of the College of Midwives of Manitoba late last month. We initiated this meeting in an effort to better understand the process that led to their self-regulatory status, as well as seek any advice they might be willing to share with us having been recently completed the application process themselves. Meeting with other health regulators is something that we need continue, not only to solicit advice but also gain support as we consider how best to move forward in our quest for self-regulation.

On January 10th I met with WFPS acting Chief Jim Brennan. We discussed a number of issues, including potential use of PAMs Con-Ed material as a component of ARML for Winnipeg staff, the possibility of WFPS assisting with PCP Bridging of rural paramedics and plans for the EMS Chiefs of Canada Conference being held in Winnipeg later this spring. Even more recently I had opportunity to meet with the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health responsible for EMS, John Stinson. Mr. Stinson recently had EMS moved into his portfolio, and has promised to continue working closely with our Association.

Just yesterday I was invited to meet again with Myrna Driedger, the Conservative critic for health. Ms. Driedger provided us with a copy of her discussion paper entitled Public Services That Work, and asked that we comment on areas related to EMS and health care for her consideration. Anyone interested in reviewing this document can download it from the PC Manitoba web site. We'll continue to meet with politicians from all provincial parties in expectation of a provincial election sometime in 2007.

Once again, my apologies for having taken such an extended leave of absence from this Blog.