Hospital launches advanced care paramedics program

North Bay paramedic Richard Lebeau gives a demonstration at a news conference today regarding the launch of the Advanced Care Paramedic Program.

Lebeau is one of two specially trained paramedics in the city to have received advanced care training. Photo by Phil Novak, BayToday.ca.

The North Bay General Hospital will be launching a new medical service March 1.

Further information is included in the following news release issued today by the hospital:

Tomorrow, North Bay & District Ambulance Service will launch its new Advanced Care Paramedic Program (ACP).

“Advanced paramedics are normally seen in larger centres like Toronto and Ottawa,” stated Dr. David Henstridge, Medical Director of the Base Hospital Paramedic Program at the North Bay General Hospital.

“Aside from Sudbury and Thunder Bay, North Bay and District Ambulance is the third land ambulance service in Northern Ontario to implement an advanced care paramedic program.”

While the program is being launched initially with two advanced care paramedics, the goal is to train two medics per year for a total complement of eight advanced care paramedics to be phased in over the next several years. The current primary paramedic program (PCP) has always been proactive among the other land ambulance services in the province by leading the way with enhanced skills such as intravenous therapy, pre-hospital defibrillation, advanced airway adjuncts and the delivery of additional medications, beyond the normal PCP level of service. The enhanced ACP skills will be a valuable addition to the current PCP role.

“In North Bay, the advanced care paramedics will work within a coverage area extending 20–30 minutes outside of the city of North Bay and will be able to provide advanced, potentially life-saving treatments before a patient actually arrives at hospital,” said Henstridge.

“They will be equipped to provide a temporary pacemaker, advanced airway techniques and administration of some of the more advanced medications, particularly those used to relieve pain,” he explained.

Richard Lebeau and Roxanne Quenneville are the new advanced care paramedics working with the North Bay Ambulance Service. Both paramedics have been working as PCPs and through a collaborative process with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) and the North Bay General Hospital have successfully completed the Advanced Care Paramedic Program at Sudbury’s Cambrian College.

“That’s why I took the course,” stated Advanced Care Paramedic, Roxanne Quenneville. “I wanted to be able to ease a person’s pain and provide an advanced assessment of the situation for the emergency department,” she added.

Advanced Care Paramedic, Richard Lebeau agreed, “We will be able to administer advanced treatments immediately on the scene instead of waiting until a patient has been transported to the hospital.”

“We are a partner in this service and pleased to help establish the new Advanced Care Paramedic Program,” said Bill White, CAO of the DNSSAB “We were able to cover the educational costs of $12,000 for each of these paramedics and by upgrading their skills, we are ensuring that these advanced services are available in our community.”

Nancy Jacko, Vice President of Medicine Care and Mental Health and Addictions at the North Bay General Hospital stated her pride in the two new advanced care paramedics.

“Richard and Roxanne worked full time while upgrading their skills and are to be commended for their efforts to improve services to our community,” explained Jacko.

Many changes in scheduling had to be incorporated to ensure the paramedics had the time available to attend classes and still be able to work their regular shifts.

“They are great ambassadors for future paramedics wishing to upgrade their skills,” she added.

While the two paramedics will begin providing advanced services tomorrow as a team, eventually they will partner with other PCPs and will continue to provide additional coverage applying their advanced skills.

In the meantime, one new PCP recruit has been selected and is currently attending the Advanced Care Paramedic Program at Cambrian College in Sudbury.