I'm just back from Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) meetings in Victoria, BC. On the agenda was the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) Review and moving forward with selection of a Registrar for the Association.
PAC received seven applications for the Registrar position posted nationally just prior to our AGM held in Winnipeg earlier this year. As Chairman of the PAC Board of Directors I was tasked with putting together a selection committee to review the applications and make a recommendation to our National Executive for consideration. The list of interested applicants was reviewed again this week in Victoria, and interviews will be conducted in early December. I would expect that PAC will be in a position to introduce our national Registrar very early in the New Year.
When the NOCPs were adopted in June of 2001, the expectation was that they'd need to be
reviewed within a five year time-frame. Consistent with that expectation, the PAC Board initiated a two year review process in 2006, anticipating that any changes to the profiles would be given due consideration by the Board in early 2008. PAC has been collaborating with stakeholders across the country for the past 16 months and met late last week in Victoria to review much of that information.
The committee reviewing the Competency Profiles consists not only of PAC members, but includes representation from the EMS Chiefs of Canada, the Society for Prehospital Educators in Canada (SPEC), the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and EMS regulators. PAC has contracted Dr. David Cane, the consultant used by PAC during the initial development of the Profiles, to coordinate and facilitate the review process.
The Victoria meetings were very constructive, with all members of the review committee recognizing the importance of the Profiles and the need to ensure they continue to represent the evolving needs of the profession in our role as health care practitioners. There was considerable discussion around the performance environments associated with the Profiles (academic, simulated, clinical and precepted) and difficulties in obtaining some competencies in certain settings. But I saw a genuine recognition from everyone around the table that nothing should be done simply to make it easier for students to complete a program...there was unanimity by all stakeholders that change had to be constructive and not "water down" the end product. While it will most likely be another couple of months before a draft document is available for stakeholders to "critique", it will undoubtedly be representative of the fluidity of our job and the growing needs of our health care system.
Manitoba MLAs will be taking a week away from the House following the end of the current legislative session. The provincial Government has announced it will introduce a Throne Speech on November 20th to open a new session.
As this session came to a conclusion so too did a couple of pieces of legislation that we were following very closely...the Memorial Foundations bill and the proposed Pathogens Act.
Bill 17, The Firefighters, Peace Officers and Other Workers Memorial Foundations Act received Royal Assent yesterday afternoon (Nov 8) and will come into force shortly. The Bill passed Third Reading as amended at the Committee level, and named paramedics as a group that could come forward and request authority to establish a memorial foundation. The amendment making specific reference to paramedics was proposed as a result of our oral presentation to the Standing Committee reviewing the legislation.
The Pathogens Act, a form of blood samples legislation, was a Private Member's bill and unfortunately did not make Second Reading. As a result it died on the Order Paper as this legislative session ended. It's unfortunate to see this legislation die for a second time in only a year, but we have received assurances from Health Minister Theresa Oswald that the Government is committed to continued efforts in this area.
When the House reconvenes on November 20th we'll be listening intently to the Throne Speech. I suspect it may make reference to a number of issues that will be of interest to us in coming months, including how the Government plans to move forward with expected recommendations from the External RHA Review and the Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative. We can also hope the speech indicates an intent to introduce new blood samples legislation and a commitment to further address issues raised in our White Paper, especially in the area of service delivery.
The past two months have been very interesting from a political perspective. Although it is most likely MLAs will return on Nov 20th and only sit for a couple of weeks before breaking again until early April, I'm hopeful those two weeks will set the stage for some positive outcomes in 2008.
Six years ago Manitoba Paramedics became involved with Operation Christmas Child, using one ambulance and visiting one school. This year paramedics across the province volunteered to collect the gift filled shoeboxes, destined for underprivileged children in South America, from nearly thirty schools, making it one of our most successful campaigns to date.
On November 5th and 6th, Paramedics from Winnipeg, South Eastman, Assiniboine, North Eastman, Central and Interlake regions collected nearly 5000 shoeboxes in support of Operation Christmas Child. The event concluded with a parade of off-duty ambulances through the streets of Winnipeg as the boxes were delivered to the OCC drop-off depot and prepared for transport.
This year marked a couple of "firsts" for our OCC drive. We
witnessed a very special delivery all the way from Churchill. Paramedics from our most northern RHA collected a number of shoeboxes that were then loaded on a CalmAir flight and "airlifted" to Winnipeg to be added to our collection total. We also welcomed some new participants to the event...both Criti Care EMS and Canadian Forces 17 Wing volunteered crews and ambulances for both days to help with pick-ups and take part in the parade.
To coordinate an event that stretches across 7 regional health authorities utilizing the resources of both public and private operators and visits schools throughout the province is no small feat. A special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make 2007 a stunning success for OCC here in Manitoba, to the Paramedics who volunteered for this very worthwhile cause and to the many employers and operators who graciously allowed us to use off-duty equipment to collect the boxes.
This is the third year that I've had the privilege to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Not only does it serve as an excellent opportunity to meet and work with Paramedics from across the province on a very worthwhile project, but undoubtedly it put smiles on the faces of thousands of young children who otherwise have very little to smile about.
The Paramedic Association of Manitoba met yesterday with Health Minister Theresa Oswald. The hour long conversation marked PAM's first meeting with the Minister since the spring provincial election.
Our initial discussions centered around the announced Red River PCP program partnership and the work that had been done to bring that to fruition. We expressed our appreciation to the Minister for Government support to enable the move from MESC to Red River and our hope that RRC might consider additional programs, including an ACP program, in the future.
Much of our conversation centered around our White Paper, Emergency Medical Services - Manitoba's Quiet Crisis. Quite honestly there was frustration expressed on both sides of the table over this issue...the Government's concern about the wide spread release of the document as well as the timing of that release, and our position that it was prompted by a delay in moving forward with the EMS Framework document. Despite these differences in opinion, we did have an excellent discussion around the need for improvements in system delivery and consistency across the province.
The most positive message delivered to us by Minister Oswald was related to the Health Professions Regulatory Reform Initiative; umbrella legislation for all regulated professions. The Minister indicated that she hoped to be able to include PAM in a review of draft recommendations in this area, and looked forward to working closely with our organization as the legislation unfolded.
As the meeting drew to a close, we touched briefly on the External RHA Review, with the Minster stating that she still expected that review to be completed by year end. Minister Oswald also brought up the subject of Blood Samples Legislation, affirming Government support in this area.
Just a few short days ago I wrote about the fact that the Firefighters, Peace Officers and Other Workers Memorial Foundations Act had been amended, and if passed would now make it possible for "paramedics and other specified groups of workers" to establish memorial foundations. I also suggested that while Minister Lemieux had not been able to bring himself to change the title or the intent of the legislation, that really didn't matter. What was important was that we had won a small battle and would be entitled, with some work ahead of us yet, to honour our fallen colleagues just as the other emergency services groups could.
The facts haven't changed over the course of time since I made those comments. But as I review the recent goings on in the Legislature and review the Hansard documents from the Standing Committee meeting that I attended earlier this week, I can't help but shake my head.
Following my presentation to the Legislative Committee reviewing Bill 17, Conservative members of the committee asked Minister Lemieux on multiple occasions to consider amending Clause 2 of the Act...the clause that specified the three Memorial Foundations that would automatically be set up by law (Firefighter, Peace Officer and Workers Foundations). They suggested that the clause should include Paramedics. In response, Lemieux consistently answered that the clause didn't matter...what mattered was the fact that he was amending the Act to allow Cabinet to approve Foundations for other groups, including Paramedics. His Government was being more inclusive.
When the Committee report was brought back to the House, PC Larry Maguire introduced another amendment for consideration. It was an addition to what Minister Lemieux has presented in Committee, and in essence it stated that the Paramedic Foundation would automatically come into being within one year from the proclamation of the Act. So instead of having to work to receive Cabinet approval for a paramedic foundation it would be a given within one year.
Not surprisingly Minister Lemieux rose in the House to say that the Government would be unable to support the proposed amendment. In his words it was redundant. There was no requirement to ensure the formation of a Paramedic Foundation because his earlier amendment already allowed for it to be taken into consideration by Cabinet. The motion to amend the Act accordingly was defeated. Mr. Maquire then attempted to place a date on the table for consideration...that too was defeated, again called redundant by Minister Lemieux.
Throughout the arguments made by Minister Lemieux for not more firmly embracing Paramedics in his legislation, remarks made both in Committee and the House, he talks of already being inclusive. And he insists that naming paramedics in the title and intent clause is unnecessary and redundant. If that's the case, Mr. Lemieux, why is any group named in these sections? Why is the legislation not simply entitled the Memorial Foundations Act? Why not allow Cabinet to approve each Foundation separately?
Your logic, Mr. Minister, escapes me. But your words speak very clearly.
The Manitoba Division of the Canadian Red Cross held their annual Rescuer Award presentations ceremony today at the Portage Ave office in Winnipeg. The Rescuer Awards are presented to non-professional rescuers or off-duty first responders who have assisted in a rescue attempt or provided help in an emergency situation. Awards were presented to eight Manitobans on November 1st to mark the first day of CPR month.
The Paramedic Association of Manitoba has become one of the largest Red Cross Authorized Providers in the province. More than 70 PAM members currently teach under our AP umbrella. As a result of that relationship I was asked to deliver the opening remarks at today's event and assist with the presentation of the Rescuer Awards.
It was an honour to have been asked to participate in this event, and while I expected to hear some remarkable stories about rescue attempts and by-stander first aid, I underestimated the emotional content of the day. Not only were the award recipients on hand to be acknowledged, but so too were many of the victim's family members...some of whom had lost loved ones in these incidents.
The father of an 18 year old driver killed in a vehicle rollover near Austin, Manitoba in April was on hand to convey his appreciation publicly to Dr. Jon Gerrard, Gerrard's wife Naomi and retired nurse Carolyn Stuart. These three individuals were first on scene at the accident and performed CPR and scene control while awaiting the arrival of emergency services.
In March of 2007 a middle-aged father of two young boys collapsed at home while talking on the phone. The boys called 911 and with the direction and help of the dispatcher performed CPR on their father until paramedics arrived. I'm not sure of the age of these young men, but I would estimate them to be about 8 and 11 years old. Their mother spoke briefly to the crowd of about 60 people gathered to observe the presentations, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the room.
As paramedics, most if not all of us have seen the efforts of relatives, friends and by-standers to help prior to or after we arrive on scene. The Rescuer Awards are an excellent opportunity to pay tribute to individuals that have gone "above and beyond", whether the outcome is successful or not. The awards also give public attention to the importance of first aid and CPR training. But even more importantly, they provide an excellent vehicle to allow those most affected by the emergency to acknowledge these individuals for their efforts.
The next time you come across a remarkable example of someone going out of their way to help at your scene, let us know. PAM is currently working on a recognition and awards program...but we'll continue to support the Red Cross Rescuer Awards as well.
I'm just back from Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) meetings in Victoria, BC. On the agenda was the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) Review and moving forward with selection of a Registrar for the Association.
reviewed within a five year time-frame. Consistent with that expectation, the PAC Board initiated a two year review process in 2006, anticipating that any changes to the profiles would be given due consideration by the Board in early 2008. PAC has been collaborating with stakeholders across the country for the past 16 months and met late last week in Victoria to review much of that information.
