rock_shoes

So would I. The curriculum hasn't been released yet. I'm doing what I can to take the best program available and based on the pre-requisites it will be one of the best. Hopefully the curriculum is released before they have my money locked in so I can evaluate it fully and compare it to the SIAST program.

That is in fact exactly what BC will be doing. I'll let you know how it turns out when I go through the program (probably Sept. next year). My frustration as I said before is that I've now completed a PCP program (because that's what I was told I needed to do) that won't help me gain entry to the program. Had the system been straight with me right off the bat I would have spent my time and money on the real pre-requisites and been ready that much sooner. Don't get too hung up on the name of the school Dust. The Justice Institute of BC is the name only. The reality of the situation is that the JI is an umbrella for several schools including Fire, Police, and Paramedic academies. It's the same idea as having several faculties within a university. Given the name I would suspect that the Police academy was the founding faculty so to speak.

I've never even been in a type II. Our service hasn't used them for around 10 years. The only ones that are left are use as medical support units (van full of extra supplies for mass casualty incidents).

Couldn't agree with you more on that point. It does feel great to go for a run after class. Like I said previously. I firmly believe you need to be fit enough to perform your duties without injuring yourself. It just isn't appropriate to worm that into the academic portion of a program. Then the smart kids get fat and lazy :shock: . Spending some class time developing fitness and nutrition plans appropriate for paramedics is time well spent and any great program will include this. Acting on those plans should be done outside of class time.

Are you there for an education or a workout :roll: ? The whole idea sound absurd to me. Don't get me wrong. I advocate being fit to perform your job, but this "style" of teaching, if you can call it that, just doesn't have any place in ADULT education.

As far as I know the union has no official position on reciprocity for foreign transfers at this time. Traditionally the union has pushed for "training from within". ie employer sponsored training taking a PCP to the ACP level. As far as I'm concerned if you're competent and willing to work hard you're welcome to come out. I can't speak for the older crowd within the union but most of us who are younger are more than happy to work with anyone who is competent.

Actually the British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) and EMA (Emergency Medical Assistant) licensing board are two separate entities. The BCAS is the sole provider of emergency ambulance services in the province of BC. If you want to work in BC they will be your employer. The EMA licensing board is the licensing body in the province of BC. You must be licensed by them if you wish to practise as a paramedic in BC. I don't know what parts of your training will transfer over but the folks at the EMA licensing are the people you will need to talk to. If you can transfer over be aware that we will be entering contract negotiations in 2009.

I grew up having a stay at home mom and I can honestly tell you there are a lot of advantages to it. The thing you have to consider is whether or not you will be happy long term giving up your career. If you're miserable as a result it isn't worth it because the benefits of you staying home will be negated. I know myself that I would never be happy as a stay at home dad (not that I have any children at this point). As much as I would love any children I have I would be absolutely miserable.

These decisions should be made by the patient either verbally at the time or through the use of an advance directive similar to a DNR. Again I don’t advocate someone else making these decisions. I advocate the patient making these decisions. Think of it as a part of your will. I have in fact done exactly that. While there are insights to be gained I firmly believe that people deserve the right to end there lives in these instances. If these people are going to gain some form of insight they will gain it prior to taking their own lives. You’re quite correct that the issue will remain divided. It’s much like the abortion debate in that respect. You’re also correct that once standards are put in place those standards will be challenged. The fact that something will be challenged does not indicate that it isn’t of value. On the note of an increase in suicide rates in the Netherlands. Is this increase related or does it come as a result of other extraneous factors? Just as a side note I also believe people have the right to fight for survival as long as they chose. I’m not advocating that people make one choice or the other. I’m advocating that they be given that choice. Ed

There is no dignity in end stage cancer, aids, or alzheimers. Who are we to deny these people the right to die with what dignity they can have on their own terms? Having read both Wendy and Mateo's articles, my opinion has not been swayed. Any of the rest of you who read them may have noticed that the majority of opposition came as a result of religious beliefs. Religious beliefs have no place in the political realm. The fact that it is up for debate is a prime example of the very poor job we as human beings have done in separating church and state. Feel free to try and sway me from my standpoint. I'm more than willing to engage in the debate and don't harbour hard feelings just because of a difference in opinion.

Euthanasia can, and has been shown to, work if the correct restrictions are put in place. In some countries it is in fact a physicians written prescription that allows for euthanasia. Bringing Hitler's version of euthanasia to the discussion is going overboard IMO.

Given that you have a plan to further your level of education to the preferred level ASAP and have in my experience shown yourself to act intelligently with due diligence, I would not call you a hypocrite. I know exactly where you are coming from. I started out on car as an EMR (essentially the same scope of practise as an EMT-. I went through the same feelings knowing that that level of provider shouldn't be accepted on car. I've since completed the majority of my PCP with only four preceptorship shifts remaining. Now as I continue to work I will be completing the pre-requisites for the ACP program (recently changed to a years worth of university credits just for entry into the program) at the Justice Institute of BC. Provided I'm able to complete all of them in time, I'm looking forward to starting into the program September 2009. The point is at this time you are working within the existing system. As long as you continue to strive to improve that system throughout your career there is nothing wrong with that. Note: PCP stands for Primary Care Paramedic (roughly equivalent in scope to EMT-I) ACP stands for Advanced Care Paramedic (roughly equivalent in scope to EMT-P)

There is no solid medical reason I know of that indicates circumcision is better. You just need to teach your kids to wash themselves properly. I still have mine and have never had an infection as a result of it.

Patients have the right to refuse care up to and including refusal that results in death. To be perfectly honest I would make the same decision given the circumstances.

Excellent idea. It's refreshing to see researchers take and entirely different approach when the same old same old just isn't working.

Contrary to popular belief, I don't think dispatchers do these things on purpose. As the calls come in they move cars in to the correct position. Simple as that. Of course I do bring our dispatch coffee and donuts on occasion as a curtesy.

Sounds like the NREMT has taken a giant leap in the right direction. It can only be hoped that they won't back off and bow to the whims of those who want quick cheap programs. Short, cheap programs produce medics who are short on knowledge and incapable of critical thinking.

You're absolutely right and that is what I will be doing. What has my hackles up is the fact that I've now spent a significant amount of time and money doing a course that won't really help me get there. I have a good portion of the new pre-reqs from previous education and could have completed all of them in the time I've now spent doing my PCP. Between the tuition, cost of living out, and income lost I could have put a significant amount of money away to cover the cost of doing the ACP. I don't think doing the PCP program has been a waste of time but it sure feels like it at this point.

Very interesting article. The research that will be required to properly investigate findings like this will be long and arduous but I suspect very worthwhile. I always had my trepidations about just throwing people on high-flow without thinking about it. I guess I was right to have some concern.

As others have mentioned save your money and spend it on improving your education. You will find it's money much better spent in the long run. I believe NorthernMedic quoted the applicable regulation for you if you would still like to persist. You wouldn't happen to be involved with St. Johns Ambulance would you? I noticed your occupation listed you as a Medical First Responder. I have to tell you St. Johns will not help you to develop a professional image or patient care skills. If you want to be a succsessful paramedic in BC or anywhere else for that matter you need to strive to become a paid professional.

A "zero to hero" program takes someone with no EMS experience at any level to the ACP (EMT-P for Alta. or the US) level in one contiguous stretch.

You do have to go through all the steps in Alberta. The zero to hero programs in Alberta take you from EMR to EMT-A to EMT-P in one continuous stretch. No minimum patient contacts in between the levels of license.

My stethoscope. Not because I'm overly fussy but because I don't like using ears that have been in everyone else's ears.

Excellent book recommendation Dust. I checked it out online to see what it was all about and ordered it ten minutes later. It should be an excellent supplement to the cardiology section of my upcoming PCP course.

It won't make for inferior health care providers. It's the way things are being implemented that's the problem. They've put everyone on one path by forcing them to take PCP first and now they're telling us PCP isn't what we should have been taking. It's the total lack of consistency that's so frustrating.