Funding, Training Key to Future of EMS in Canada

TORONTO (CP) - A new report released Thursday suggests the future of paramedical services in Canada will centre on expanded community-based health care that will reduce costs and save lives.

The report by the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada is being touted as the first clear long-term vision for the country's paramedics.

Group president Bruce Farr said paramedics have the skills to diagnose and treat patients in the community and determine whether they need to be taken to the emergency room or other health-care facilities, but are often prevented from doing so for legal reasons.

As the population ages and hospitals become more crowded, Farr said he foresees an expanded role for paramedics that could involve working with homeless people, delivering flu and hepatitis B shots, and participating in injury-prevention programs.

''It's really time to look at how we can branch out and be a complete part of the health-care system and help out in areas such as preventative medicine,'' he said.

''It's those kinds of things that help save the overall health-care system in terms of dollars and cents and helps take people out of the emergency department.''

The report recommends developing a ''clear core identity'' for the profession, standardizing paramedic training and making credentials transferable between provinces.

The organization is urging public policy makers to recognize the role paramedics play and to support initiatives between paramedics, medical professionals and public safety organizations.

Farr, however, admitted legislative change will come slowly.

''We're not going to run out and take this book and knock on the door of the minister of health and say, 'We want money,''' he said.

''These are things that need to be talked about in the years to come.''

''There has to be some changes in public policy, but all of those things are going to take time.''

Paramedic associations across the country - which have spent years fighting for standardized training and recognition as primary health-care professionals - welcomed the report.

''It's certainly a good first step to lay a framework for EMS in Canada for the future,'' said John Strohmaier of the Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia, which represents about 3,300 medics.

''I think we do agree with EMS chiefs that the nature of EMS in Canada is changing and needs to change.''

Strohmaier said staffing and recruitment are of particular concern in rural B.C., as is recognition from the provincial government, which has refused to consider allowing paramedics to be self-regulated like doctors and nurses.

Chris Hood of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick said the report is ''just another piece in the puzzle of evidence'' that shows ''moving this profession and the EMS system forward into the future is key to having good, quality health care.''

While Paul Morneau of the Paramedic Association of Canada believes a ''united front'' of front-line workers and EMS chiefs will provide momentum to any push for legislative change, not all jurisdictions are as optimistic.

Quebec paramedic association president Diane Verreault said her province is behind the rest of Canada because legislators refuse to allow those with advanced care training to practise their life-saving skills in the field - skills that are believed to save some 225 lives a year in Ontario.

Unlike the rest of Canada's paramedic services, Verreault said Quebec EMS is run by business managers and not paramedics, and that medical professionals are reluctant to share their responsibilities.

''Everybody is trying to protect their turf, but nobody is thinking about the real needs of the patient,'' she said.

''Here we're still discussing in Quebec the term 'paramedic' because the office of the French language is telling us it's not a French word. ... When we're arguing about a word ... we are very, very far from the patient.''