Education Decision Close?

In June of 2001 Manitoba Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Manitoba Emergency Services College (MESC) in Brandon to deliver EMR and EMT programs regionally. This MOU provided the Brandon College with significant funding to ensure that the educational needs of EMS in rural Manitoba were met. In simple terms, the agreement called for MESC to facilitate 10 EMT courses annually based on regional requirements. The memorandum expired in 2006, and for a number of reasons, including concerns expressed by the EMS Directors, it was not renewed. Alternatives have been explored for some time now, including government support to assist Red River College with the development of a Primary Care Paramedic program.

The Paramedic Association of Manitoba has long been advocating the need for a more professional education model for paramedicine in our province.Our desire to be recognized and respected as health professionals is met with certain challenges as a result of the educational processes used in the past.To validate our role and ensure credibility for graduates as they interact with other allied health professionals, Manitoba needs an education model for paramedics with strong affiliations to other health sciences programs. Paramedics should be educated in an environment that promotes portability of credentials to or from other health care roles. It has been strongly recommended by Canada’s leading experts in emergency medical services that future paramedic’s be educated in an environment similar to other front-line health care practitioners such as physicians and nurses. Many Canadian jurisdictions now require diploma and degree programs for graduates to obtain licensure. Having a recognized post secondary educational institution deliver a paramedic program within a health sciences faculty would go a long way toward answering those critics who suggest paramedics aren't really health practitioners. It would also add credibility to our call for self-regulation!

The Paramedic Association of Manitoba has been supporting Red River's proposal to develop and deliver PCP education in our province. We've met on numerous occasions with representatives from the RRC Health Sciences faculty and officials from Manitoba Health to promote this concept. I'm confident that our arguments have been heard, and hopeful that Department officials have been able to convince their political bosses of the many benefits associated with moving in this direction. Based on responses to my many requests for information over the past few weeks, I'm somewhat optimistic that we may hear an announcement regarding this issue once the Legislature reconvenes early next week. Stay tuned...