The major goal of the Ontario Paramedic Association is to facilitate paramedicines inclusion as a regulated health profession. Our maturation over the past few years along with our expanding scope of practice has positioned us as an important health care entity within Ontario. The following are some examples of why a College of Paramedicine is required:

• Our relationship with Base Hospital physicians in this province allows us to perform up to 8 controlled medical acts under a model of delegation. These acts, by definition, pose a potential risk to the patient. Currently the delegating physicians are vicariously liable for the outcome of these acts. The responsibility of the paramedic must be clarified.

• Issues involving allegations of professional misconduct are currently resolved within a framework that does not include representation from the public or adequate deliberation by a group of peers. This is inconsistent with other health care professions and creates different standards with our communities.

• Paramedics work in environments that are uncontrolled. This means that we must adapt to the needs of our patients by demonstrating good judgment and clinical sense.

• Supervision of our practice is generally self-directed within guidelines and regulations provided by EMS Services, Base Hospitals and the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care.

• While the Ambulance Act (the only current legislation governing our practice) provides a limited level of safety to patients in Ontario, it fails to recognize the evolution of paramedics as a unique entity outside the scope of that document. As an example paramedics care for patients while under the employ of patient transfer service operators, research companies, and sports & entertainment venues. It is important to not that this practice is currently unregulated.

   

These are just a few of the issues that suggest paramedicine needs to be included within the Regulated Health Professions Act. Paramedics are ready to accept more responsibility for their profession. We are pleased to report that this concept has been widely accepted over the past year, including endorsements by the EMS Directors and Base Hospitals. We are currently forming a steering committee with invitations to stakeholders from all aspects of the profession to address the issue of establishing a College of Paramedicine. Over the next 10 months the key roles of this group will be to:

• expand our educational efforts for the  profession about the role of a College and the responsibility that must be accepted by paramedics,

• develop a business case for a College

• develop a letter of application to the Minister of Health requesting a review of paramedicine by HPRAC

• develop possible models of integration that recognize the strengths and capacity of our current EMS system including base hospitals, EHS and service providers.