Medic Monday Recognizes Paramedics

Today, September 25, more than 1,200 paramedics across the province are being celebrated as Nova Scotia marks Medic Monday.

“Paramedicine is a profession that puts others first and it can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. Our paramedics have shown us time and time again that they have dedicated their lives to serving our communities,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “Thank you to every paramedic for all you do, every day – from saving lives to comforting people in their time of need.”

Paramedics respond to more than just emergencies. They work closely with other healthcare professionals to improve healthcare for Nova Scotians.

To support the lifesaving work of paramedics and to recruit and retain more of them, the Province has:

• provided a tuition rebate to paramedics who agree to work in Nova Scotia for at least three years following graduation
• provided a retention bonus to recognize the hard-work of paramedics in Nova Scotia
• added a new Emergency Health Services (EHS) LifeFlight airplane to transfer non-critical care patients from Yarmouth and Sydney to Halifax for tests and treatment
• added a nurse to the 911 medical communications centre to manage non-life-threatening calls so paramedics can focus on emergencies.

Since 2013, the Province has recognized the last Monday in September as Medic Monday, a day to honour paramedics.

Quotes:

“I have worked alongside some of the most incredible, compassionate, skilled and dedicated people in my five years as a paramedic in Nova Scotia. Being a paramedic means having the opportunity to use our knowledge and skills to positively impact someone during the worst moments of their lives. You get to be a glimmer of hope in the darkest of times, showing compassion, trust and safety to people in communities across the province. It’s the most human thing we can do – and it’s an honour.”

– Maggie Beaton, EHS paramedic, Mabou

Quick Facts:

• in 2022, EHS received more than 189,000 calls
• since its official launch in August, the EHS LifeFlight non-critical care transport program has transferred 74 patients, putting hundreds of ambulance service hours back into local communities
• Nova Scotia’s emergency health system includes primary care, intermediate care, advanced care and critical care paramedics who work in a variety of roles and settings, including in single paramedic response units, community paramedicine, hospitals, emergency preparedness and special operations, with EHS LifeFlight, and in the EHS medical communications centre

Additional Resources:

Information on becoming a paramedic: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ehs/becoming-a-paramedic.asp

News release – New LifeFlight Airplane Unveiled: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230804002

News release – Retention Bonuses, Incentives for Nurses, Healthcare Workers: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230320001

News release – Actions to Improve Emergency Care: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230118001

News release – Emergency Health Services Adds Nurses to 911 Team: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20221028002