Arctickat

Public Access AEDs have been around for how long in this area and they're just now getting the registry locations set up?

And this is relevant EMS news,....how?

I can bridge to the ACP level with an online conversation with an instructor, a 4 hour skills lab and a $400.00 cheque. Correct. I will have no further enhancements to my scope of practice unless it is something added to the PCP level practitioner or I upgrade to the ACP. I'm sorry, I am actually causing some confusion because I am discussing two seperate topics. The other topic in this is that the EMTs are also not just frozen...but reduced to EMR level. If they want to continue they will be required to take the PCP bridge and then another training session to reach the 2011 NOCPs.

Not at my current level. When the ACP concept was introduced 10 years ago the scope of practice was identical to that for the EMT-P, but a bridging program was provided for EMT-Ps who wanted to upgrade their certificate to a diploma. Since it had no effect on me and did not provide an improvement in patient care at the time, I saw little purpose in spending the money on a course lasting 2 weekends that would have the sole benefit of changing three letters in my certification status. When the new NOCPs were introduced in 2011 it was decided to freeze the EMT-P level and prohibit us from utilising any new protocols. There are currently 35 of us left in the province, we can continue with our current scope but can not add to it. As far as the PCPs go, as stated in the document, the current 200 of 1500 BLS providers who are still EMTs will revert to EMR status unless they take two upgrade classes, the duration of which have not yet been determined...possibly in the 2 - 4 week range in total.

Oh, and these are the NOCPs. http://paramedic.ca/nocp/

The College of Paramedics in Saskatchewan just released this survey which indicates that the old designation of EMT will be phased out by designating such practitioners as EMRs unless they choose to participate in a bridging program to match the NOCPs. I have mixed feelings...if only because I am one of the "Old Guard" EMT-Ps. My current training level has been frozen. Although I have 30+ years of experience and have been involved in educating and training for almost as long, I am not permitted to provide new treatments or administer newly approved meds because I do not have the "training foundation" that the Advanced Care Paramedic training provides. I'd link you to the actual survey page, but I fear that you all might be tempted to respond. lol Here are the questions: PCP Scope of Practice Survey As members of a health profession privileged to be granted self-regulation, paramedics have accepted legal and ethical responsibility for their individual work and behaviour and hold the interest of the public and society as paramount. Scope of practice for paramedics in Saskatchewan is set by the Minister of Health and SCoP, through The Paramedics Act, the Regulatory Bylaws pursuant to The Paramedics Act, related policies, as well as the Saskatchewan Emergency Treatment Protocols that have been approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The revised National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) has recently been endorsed by the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR). The NOCP have been used as the national benchmark for paramedic standards and Canadian Medical Association (CMA) approved programs. In keeping with the NOCP standards, SCoP sees values in aligning with the following licensing levels: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Primary Care Paramedic (PCP), Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP ). The Intermediate Care Paramedic (ICP) is a vital link in the health care chain and SCoP will continue to license qualified ICP practitioners in Saskatchewan. In addition, SCoP hopes to increase the scope of practice for the PCP. There are two main subject areas that are anticipated to be included in the new PCP upgrade training. This would include Pharmacology and Intravenous (I.V) Therapy. The Pharmacology Course may include administration of symptom relief medications. The actual list of medications is yet to be finalized. The I.V Therapy Course would include initiation of I.V fluid therapy as required in various medical and traumatic patient conditions. There would be other subject areas of review such as patient assessment, medical emergencies, traumatic emergencies, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, etc. In following with the Strategic Objectives of SCoP, we are seeking input from the various stakeholders and members by requesting that you complete the following survey. 1) If you are EMT trained and have not yet taken the current PCP upgrade training (NOCP 2001), would you be interested in completing the current PCP upgrade training or would you prefer to be licensed at the EMR level? 2) If you are PCP trained, will you be upgrading to the new 2011 NOCP standards or would you prefer to be licensed at the EMR level? 3) What support mechanisms do you have to assist you with taking the PCP upgrade training? (ie paid time off, flexible work schedule, etc.) 4) SCoP is reviewing the use of a combination of delivery methods indicated below for the new PCP upgrade training. What do you think of EACH of the following components to this proposed delivery format? a. a take home study package to be completed prior to class; b. approximately 80 hours of scenario/skill review/evaluations; c. competencies to be completed in a clinical setting. 5) Intravenous initiation is one of the new skill sets proposed for the PCP practitioner. Presently, a set number of I.V. starts need to be successfully completed under supervision prior to the trainee initiating I.V. therapy. How many I.V. starts do you think should be completed under supervision? 6) Considering that there are potentially 1300 PCP’s that could be enrolling in the new PCP upgrade training, clinical space will be challenging to schedule. Do you have a proposal on how to complete the clinical requirement of I.V therapy? 7) SCoP is considering adding some pain relief medications to the PCP scope of practice. The final medication list is yet to be determined. What medications do you think would be relevant to the PCP? 8) In keeping with the NOCP standards, SCoP plans to move towards the following licensing levels: EMR, PCP, ACP, and CCP. In preparation for this change, SCoP recognizes that there are approximately 200 practitioners who have remained at the EMT trained level. What time frame for completion of the PCP upgrade training (NOCP 2001) would you consider appropriate? Why? 9) In keeping with the NOCP standards, SCoP plans to move towards the following licensing levels: EMR, PCP, ACP, and CCP. In preparation for this change, SCoP recognizes that there are approximately 1300 practitioners who are at the current PCP trained level. What time frame for completion of the PCP upgrade training (NOCP 2011) would you consider appropriate? Why? 10) Any other comments?

My condolences, Welcome back.

I can't think of a punishment severe enough to fit this crime. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/08/20/3-delaware-daycare-employees-arrested-for-encouraging-toddlers-to-fight/

Just wondering...what is the purpose for removing your boots? Is it that the dirtiness of the world should not be trodden into this house of worship? What I'm getting at is whether or not it would be just as acceptable to wear boot covers when you walk in? I suppose one needs to ask how much time would be lost? My boots zip on..I can take them off in 5 seconds and put them back on in 4, pretty much as quickly as slipping boot covers over top of them.

Why are you asking us? I think that this question would be better put to your religious leaders. With the exception of religious discrimination laws there are no rules for working in EMS and observing the religious beliefs of your client. We do have to respect the treatment decisions of the client which may have implications from religious beliefs. ie no blood for a JW. I don't know what the term is for the religious leader of a Hindu temple, but since the removal of footwear is related to the religion as a whole and not to specific patients, this person would likely be able to grant you an exception....or not. Go to each temple and ask them for direction. Most, if not all, would consider the welfare of their parishioner, far more important than the condition of the carpet. As an aside, those of us who are not Hindu would likely have walked in with boots on, blissfully unaware that we'd contravened any religious precedents. Thanks for the info.

I couldn't resist. All the good stuff had already been said, so I thought I'd have some fun.

Disgruntled recipient of a telemarketing call?

I tell them the truth, that it's the 2 year old girl who went to bed Christmas night, had a seizure in her sleep, and was found dead by her parents Boxing Day morning. Then I thank them for making me relive the nightmare.

I've learned over the years that the pressure I wok under is mostly in my mind. I was always worried, is the chicken cooked enough, how is the beef? If I used a pressure wok it always made the veggies in the stir fry way too limp. There's no need for wok pressure to have an effect on your life. Just understand, the stir fry will turn out the way it turns out. Once in a while it'll be a slimy mess, other times the meat might be undercooked. So long as no one gets sick from your cooking in the end, everything is fine.

As is Indians, Redskins, Braves....etc etc etc. lol

lol, thanks Dwayne...I've got 20 e-mails amongst all my business interests. I've been using them all.

Bump You can vote every day and the contest ends Oct 14.

Does your school require the students to partake in a field practicum? If so, subject all the students to a mandatory drug test, don't single out this one student. If, and when this student fails, make sure he is aware that even though he has a prescription for these pain killers, he can not work while under the influence of such. Until such time as he is able to perform his duties without the need for painkillers he will not be able to complete his practicum and will be required to provide samples during the training period. If he is using the pain killers for legitimate pain, then he shouldn't be working at all, he needs to heal first so he doesn't injure himself further. If he is abusing them, then he will not be able to complete his training until his rehab is complete. Most of all, be supportive. Give him an opportunity to sort himself out and return. I know a few great medics who have had to shrug that monkey off their backs....there are even some on this forum. Finally, none of us are lawyers. Get legal advice from one of them, not from me. My idea sounds good in my head, but I have no idea if it's legal where you are.

Welcome to the forums, feel free to comment in a post that interests you, or start a discussion of your own.

Oh, when I opened the thread I thought it was gonna be a discussion about toothbrushes.

I fail to understand how they can be getting a new EC130 for only 3 million when the same helo, 10 years old is priced at 2.5 million. I think they may be disappointed. Is a single engine even allowed? You wouldn't see that in Canada on a helicopter air ambulance.

http://myfox8.com/2012/08/14/high-tech-ambulance-hits-piedmont-streets/ I'm all for "tooting your own horn." but there is a limit, no?

Hi gang, Hoping I can prevail upon some of you to help out a friend. She and her organisation are involved in a contest put on by the Canadian Football League and the Scotia Bank. Basically, the more votes she gets, the better her chances to win. You're allowed to vote once per day, per e-mail address, so if you have more than one address you can vote more than once. Your choice on if, how often, and how many times you want to vote. Here's a link to her section and the story of her organisation. https://www.scotiabankgamechangers.com/nomination/?nominationid=236

Not at all, it's just part of providing the OP with all the information. No different from informed consent or refusal.