First Class of Advanced Level Paramedics Graduates

Paramedic students from Nova Scotia made history today, becoming the first to train and graduate from an advanced level paramedic program in the province.

Each of the eight students now has a P3 designation, the highest level of paramedic training. The designation follows an 18-month training course begun in February 1998 at the School of Emergency Health Services at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. Prior to this program, paramedics had to leave the province for advanced level paramedic training.

The students, funded by the Department of Health's Emergency Health Services division, spent about 50 per cent of their time outside the classroom, either with certified P3s on an ambulance or working in a hospital.

"Most people had to travel to the United States for their training," said Dr. Ed Cain, medical director at Emergency Health Services. "We now have almost 40 P3s in Nova Scotia and those numbers will rise now that can we can provide our advanced training and certification process here in the province. The next stage is to start a distance-education program so that our paramedics can stay and work in their communities while training to become a P3."

Paramedics isolate life-threatening problems and manage them before or during transport to a hospital. These problems often include trauma injuries -- such as those sustained during a car crash -- or specific problems associated with illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other conditions.

There are about 600 paramedics in Nova Scotia. All can perform certain medical procedures under the licensure of the Emergency Health Services medical director. Their level of training determines the kinds of medical procedures they can perform. For example, P1s can defibrillate a patient to try to restore a normal heart rhythm, as well as administer some symptom-relief drugs. P2s can start an intravenous system to deliver fluids or medication, administer more drugs, and intubate patients to establish a clear airway.

A P3 can perform all of these procedures as well as administer a wider range of medication. A P3 will also have more extensive knowledge, not only in advanced life support, but in other health care areas as well. The program will eventually train P3s to perform even more complex emergency medical procedures outside the hospital.

"All paramedics have the skills to save lives and prevent injuries," said Health Minister Jim Smith. "The goal of this program is to develop highly skilled individuals with an even greater depth of knowledge that will enable them to advance the level of care outside the hospital."