The Manitoba government is introducing advanced care paramedics to rural and northern Manitoba in hopes of strengthening emergency care across the province.
“We’re expanding the scope of paramedicine in the province, starting with clinical service leaders stationed in communities throughout rural and northern Manitoba,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara.
Fourteen clinical service leaders with ACP training will be located in seven rural and northern areas of the province, including Portage la Prairie, Flin Flon, Dauphin, Ashern, Neepawa, Swan River and Lac du Bonnet. They cannot transport patients. However, their training and they can respond to medical emergencies and provide pre-hospital care on scene.
"The introduction of ACPs in rural Manitoba is a very exciting initiative that provides patients in more remote and less populated parts of the province with enhanced care before they get to a hospital, while helping our emergency response system to be more nimble and responsive at the same time," said Scott Noble, executive director of emergency medical services operations, Shared Health. "Equally important is that this initiative supports paramedics who have told us about their long-standing desire to practise at this level and to have better opportunities for career advancement."
The province says it hopes this new initiative will also help support the ongoing efforts to recruit and retain paramedic staff.