Confederation College Celebrates Advanced Care Paramedic Graduates
Posted:
(THUNDER BAY, ON – December 22, 2023) – Confederation College is excited to announce the graduation of our inaugural class from the nationally accredited Advanced Care Paramedic Program. The graduating class successfully completed their Provincial and local certification exams and have already begun serving the community. This program marks the first locally-based land-ambulance Advanced Care Paramedic training program of its kind since 2008.
To be eligible for the program, students must have completed a primary care paramedic diploma and have experience working in the field. In their first cohort, ten working paramedics completed three semesters of rigorous training to enhance and upgrade their skills. They learned how to intervene and resuscitate individuals of all ages experiencing medical and trauma emergencies. The graduates have acquired a comprehensive skill set, including the delivery of 14 additional life-saving medications and mastery of 11 advanced crisis intervention techniques, as outlined in the Ontario Paramedic Association's "Advanced Care Paramedic Scope of Practice."
“Returning to Confederation College and learning to become an advanced care paramedic has been invaluable for my career. The skills I’ve learned and education I’ve received in the program will allow me to serve the community with the highest level of care, and really make a difference in emergency situations,” noted Kevin Ellard, a graduate of the first cohort.
Advanced Care Paramedics are highly specialized practitioners of pre-hospital care, serving in land-ambulance, air ambulance, and tactical policing environments. The program provides students with field placement experience, preparing them to meet the unique challenges faced in our community. Confederation College works closely with organizations like Superior EMS and ORNGE to ensure graduates learn the skills most needed in northwestern Ontario.
Tanis Miller, Advanced Care Paramedic Program Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We are immensely proud of our ten Advanced Care Paramedic graduates who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill throughout their training. They are equipped to make a significant impact in our community, providing critical care and support during emergencies. We also extend a warm welcome to our five new Advanced Care Paramedic students currently undergoing ambulance field placement, further refining their practice."
Due to the ongoing national paramedic shortage, the Advanced Care Paramedic Program will continue to accept new students every second year in September until the shortage is resolved. The next intake will begin in September 2024.
Confederation College President Kathleen Lynch commented, “We are committed to producing highly trained and specialized Advanced Care Paramedics to meet the growing demand for quality pre-hospital care. We congratulate our graduates and look forward to their continued success in their vital roles as medical professionals.”
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Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has seven regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, as well as a growing Distance Education division.
Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 7,000 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $707.3 million annually.
For more information, please contact:
Jenna Kelos, Communications Officer
Office: (807) 475-6461