British Columbia Ambulance Service

British Columbia Ambulance Service
Crown Agency
Industry Emergency Medical Services
Founded July 1, 1974
Headquarters British Columbia
Number of employees
 4300 (November 2015)
Website www.bcehs.ca

The British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) is the sole ambulance service and provider of pre-hospital emergency care in the province of British Columbia. BCAS is managed by British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and falls under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). The service is tasked with the provision of emergency medical response province-wide. Today, BC Ambulance is among the largest Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider in Canada and North America. The fleet consists of more than 481 ground ambulances operating from 183 stations across the province along with 77 support vehicles. BCAS provides inter-facility patient transfer services in circumstances where a patient needs to be moved between health care facilities for treatment. BCAS also operates an airevac program that utilizes both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

History

BCEHS critical care team on the helicopter pad on the top of Vancouver General Hospital following the offloading of a patient.

Prior to 1974, ambulance services in British Columbia was provided by a mixture of volunteer ambulance brigades, fire departments, funeral homes, and private operators. As a result of recommendations made by the Foulkes Commission's report on health care, titled "Health Security for British Columbians" released in 1973, the Government of British Columbia created the Emergency Health Services Commission (EHSC), which in turn created the BC Ambulance Service on July 4, 1974.

Governance

In British Columbia, responsibility for the provision of ambulance services is granted to British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) under the auspices of the Emergency and Health Services Act. BCEHS reports to PHSA. The members of the Emergency Health Services Commission act as a Board of Directors to the BC Ambulance Service. The commission membership consists of health service administrators, medical professionals, and government representatives. BCEHS is also responsible for the operation of the BC Patient Transfer Network, which assists physicians when it is necessary to transfer a patient to a higher level of care.

The Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board is an independent regulatory body responsible for licensing Paramedics.[1]

Organization

There are 183 ambulance stations in British Columbia, including the transfer fleet.[2] Stations may be staffed with part-time paramedics, part-time and full-time paramedics, or only full-time paramedics, depending on where the station is located and the number of calls its crews are dispatched to. Each station is headed up by a Unit Chief, who acts as supervisor for the crew at the station. The Unit Chief also handles the day-to-day administrative duties required by the station, including payroll management, overseeing station and ambulance maintenance, and crew scheduling.

Each station falls under the responsibility of a District Superintendent. The District Superintendent has responsibility for the operations of all of the stations within a given district. The size of the district, and the number of stations it encompasses, varies depending on factors such as geography, station size and number of paramedics.

Each BCAS district is part of a larger region, which is headed by an Executive Director. Each District Superintendent is accountable to the Executive Director for that specific region. In some regions, a Director of Operations assists the Executive Director with day-to-day activities. The District Superintendents are accountable to the Executive Director of the region, who in turn reports to the Chief Operating Officer of the BC Ambulance Service.

The BCAS provincial headquarters is located in Victoria, BC. It is staffed by an executive management team, and other support services. The final responsibility for BCAS operations lies with the service's Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer is accountable to the Executive Officer, BC Emergency Health Services, who in turn reports to the Board of BC Emergency Health Services.

Ambulance stations list

As of January 2014[3]

District Ambulance Station Location Notes
North East Station 751 Atlin
North East Station 757 Dease Lake
North East Station 858 Fort Nelson
North East Station 860 Fort St John
North East Station 862 Hudsons Hope
North East Station 852 Chetwynd
North East Station 856 Dawson Creek
North East Station 858 Tumbler Ridge
Skeena Station 643 Stewart
Skeena Station 679 Hazelton
Skeena Station 674 Kitwanga
Skeena Station 769 Smithers
Skeena Station 756 Granisle
Skeena Station 690 Masset
Skeena Station 651 Clements
Skeena Station 681 Sandspit
Skeena Station 687 Queen Charlotte Island
Skeena Station 684 Prince Rupert
Skeena Station 645 Terrace
Skeena Station 623 Kitimat
Skeena Station 767 Houston
North Fraser Station 532 Mackenzie
North Fraser Station 503 Bear Lake
North Fraser Station 761 Fort St James
North Fraser Station 753 Burns Lake
North Fraser Station 773 Southside
North Fraser Station 763 Fraser Lake
North Fraser Station 771 Vanderhoof
North Fraser Station 535 Prince George Hart Hwy
North Fraser Station 531 Prince George Edmonton
North Fraser Station 580 Prince George Critical Care Transport Station
Chilcotin Robson Station 227 Bella Coola
Chilcotin Robson Station 309 Anahim Lake
Chilcotin Robson Station 353 Alexis Creek
Chilcotin Robson Station 348 Williams Lake
Chilcotin Robson Station 538 Quesnel
Chilcotin Robson Station 550 Wells
Chilcotin Robson Station 525 McBride
Chilcotin Robson Station 533 Valemount
North Island Station 226 Bella Bella
North Island Station 126 Port Hardy
North Island Station 132 Sointula
North Island Station 102 Alert Bay
North Island Station 129 Port McNeill
North Island Station 172 Port Alice
North Island Station 131 Sayward
North Island Station 135 Zeballos
North Island Station 133 Tahsis
North Island Station 155 Gold River
North Island Station 108 Campbell River
Comox Station 170 Quadra Island
Comox Station 169 Cortes Island
Comox Station 229 Powell River
Comox Station 136 Tofino
Comox Station 134 Ucluelet
Comox Station 150 Courtenay
Comox Station 150 Annex
Comox Station 151 Cumberland
Comox Station 171 Denman Island
Comox Station 228 Texada Island
Comox Station 124 Port Alberni
Central Island Station 173 Bowser
Central Island Station 138 Qualicum Beach
Central Island Station 130 Parksville
Central Island Station 122/180 Nanaimo North Critical Care Transport Station
Central Island Station 120 Nanaimo South
Central Island Station 153 Gabriola Island
Central Island Station 159 Ladysmith
Cowichan Station 115 Port Renfrew
Cowichan Station 119 Lake Cowichan
Cowichan Station 149 Chemainus
Cowichan Station 152 Duncan
Cowichan Station 103 Ganges
Cowichan Station 117 Galianols
Cowichan Station 104 Maynels
Cowichan Station 114 Penderls
Cowichan Station 137 MillBay
Greater Victoria Station 107 Sooke
Greater Victoria Station 106 Sidney
Greater Victoria Station 105 Central Saanich
Greater Victoria Station 121 Annex
Greater Victoria Station 109 LeighRoad HQ/Dispatch 
Greater Victoria Station 125 Annex
Greater Victoria Station 140 CRS
Greater Victoria Station 127 Annex
Greater Victoria Station 123 Annex
Greater Victoria Station 112 Annex
Greater Victoria Station 118 Annex
Cariboo Fraser Station 327 100 Mile House
Cariboo Fraser Station 308 Clinton
Cariboo Fraser Station 313 Gold Bridge
Cariboo Fraser Station 304 Seton Portage
Cariboo Fraser Station 318 Lillooet
Cariboo Fraser Station 303 Ashcroft
Cariboo Fraser Station 321 Lytton
Cariboo Fraser Station 204 Boston Bear
Cariboo Fraser Station 214 Hope
Thompson Station 338 Blue River
Thompson Station 335 Clearwater
Thompson Station 306 Barriere
Thompson Station 307 Chase
Thompson Station 333 Sicamous
Thompson Station 336 Revelstoke
Thompson Station 332 Salmon Arm
Thompson Station 311 Enderby
Thompson Station 302 Armstrong
Kootenay East Station 409 Field
Kootenay East Station 413 Golden
Kootenay East Station 411 Invermere
Kootenay East Station 405 Elkford
Kootenay East Station 414 Kimberley
Kootenay East Station 428 Sparwood
Kootenay East Station 406 Fernie
Kootenay East Station 403 Cranbrook
Kootenay East Station 404 Creston
Kootenay West Station 419 Nakusp
Kootenay West Station 422 New Denver
Kootenay West Station 412 Kaslo
Kootenay West Station 423 Riondel
Kootenay West Station 427 Winlaw
Kootenay West Station 421 Nelson
Kootenay West Station 402 Castlegar
Kootenay West Station 426 Salmo
Kootenay West Station 417 Fruitvale
Kootenay West Station 424 Rossland
Kootenay West Station 431 Trail
Okanagan South Station 408 Grand Forks
Okanagan South Station 410 Greenwood
Okanagan South Station 415 Midway
Okanagan South Station 328 Osoyoos
Okanagan South Station 326 Oliver
Okanagan South Station 317 Keremeos
Okanagan South Station 330 Princeton
Okanagan South Station 329 Penticton
Okanagan South Station 334 Summerland
Central Okanagan Station 342 Peachland
Central Okanagan Station 339 West Kelowna
Central Okanagan Station 340 Kelowna Lawrence
Central Okanagan Station 341 Kelowna Mills Road
Central Okanagan Station 380 Critical Care Transport Station
Central Okanagan Station 343 Lake Country Winfield
Okanagan North Station 407 Edgewood
Okanagan North Station 320 Lumby
Okanagan North Station 337 Vernon
Okanagan North Station 314 Kamloops South HQ/Dispatch 
Okanagan North Station 315 Kamloops North
Okanagan North Station 370 Critical Care Transport Station
Thompson Station 324 Merritt
Thompson Station 319 Logan Lake
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 219 Pemberton
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 224 Whistler
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 222 Squamish
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 265 Madeira Park
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 235 Sechelt
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 268 Gibsons
Sea to Sky/Sunshine Station 225 Bowen Island
Fraser Valley Station 203 Agassiz
Fraser Valley Station 206 Chilliwack
Fraser Valley Station 202 Abbotsford
Fraser Valley Station 205 Abbotsford Mt Lehman
Fraser Valley Station 215 Mission
Fraser Valley Station 252 Langley Critical Care Transport Station
Fraser Valley Station 267 North Langley
Fraser Valley Station 257 Maple Ridge
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 254 White Rock
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 253 Cloverdale
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 264 Nordel Logistics Centre
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 266 North Delta
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 249 Surrey
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 247 New West Rousseau
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 259 Port Moody
Surrey/North Delta/Tricities Station 263 Port Coquitlam
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 251 Annex
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 251 Delta
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 269 South Richmond
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 250 Richmond
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 280 Critical Care Transport Station
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 270 Richmond Airport
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 244 Vancouver W 59th
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 246 Vancouver Ormidale
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 245 Vancouver E King Edward HQ/Dispatch 
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 258 Burnaby
South Delta/Richmond/Burnaby Station 260 New West 12th
Vancouver/North Shore Station 233 Lions Bay
Vancouver/North Shore Station 255 West Vancouver
Vancouver/North Shore Station 256 North Vancouver
Vancouver/North Shore Station 256 Annex
Vancouver/North Shore Station 262 Vancouver UBC
Vancouver/North Shore Station 242 Vancouver Richards
Vancouver/North Shore Station 248 Vancouver E Cordova
Vancouver/North Shore Station 261 Vancouver W 7th
Vancouver/North Shore Station 243 Vancouver Arbutus
Vancouver/North Shore Station 283 Critical Care Transport Station

Staff

As of November 2015, the BCAS employs 4,300 part-time and full-time paramedics and dispatchers. This includes management and administrative employees in the BCAS.[2]

Emergency medical communication centres

The BCAS operates four Communication centres located throughout the province. The Vancouver Island Communications Centre (VICC), located in Victoria British Columbia is responsible for all ground ambulance deployment for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands; the Lower Mainland Region Ambulance Communication Centre (LMRACC) deploys all ground ambulances in the Lower Mainland (i.e., Metro Vancouver & the Fraser Valley Regional District), the Sunshine Coast, as far east as Boston Bar and as far north as Pemberton; and the Interior and Northern BC Communications Centre (INBCCC) deploys resources to the remainder of the province, including the southern interior (Okanagan, Cariboo & Kootenays) and northern BC (Skeena, Northern Interior & Peace Regions, representing west-central, east-central and northern areas of the province, respectively). The fourth Communication centre, the Provincial Air Ambulance Coordination Centre (PAACC), is located in Victoria and has responsibility for coordinating and deploying of all air ambulance resources, whether they are used for scene responses, or for inter-facility transfers.

Each Communication centre is staffed with a mixture of Emergency Medical Call Takers (EMCT) and Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD). The Vancouver Communication system is the largest of the four Centres. A Communication Supervisor who is a barganing unit member, provides line supervisory support to Communication centre staff, with a Director and a Communication Superintendent managing the centre. Other centres have a Charge EMD in the role of Supervisor, with a Superintendent managing the Centre. Training for EMCTs and EMDs is provided in-house by the BC Ambulance Service.

The BC Ambulance Service utilizes the Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) to triage calls and a customized Resource Allocation Plan (RAP) to allocate First Responders, Primary Care Paramedics, and Advanced Care Paramedics to calls as needed.

Within the Metro Vancouver region, BCAS utilizes the E-Comm Wide-Area Radio Network for one-stop communication between police and fire agencies.

Fleet

Airevac response

BCEHS helicopters based in Vancouver

The BCAS is responsible for the delivery of air ambulance services throughout the province of British Columbia. Critical care paramedics are deployed from bases in Prince George, Richmond, Kelowna and Kamloops, Nanaimo, Langley and Vancouver. Each team is composed of two CCPs who transport all Adult patients and some pediatric patients. The infant transport team (ITT) based out of BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver handles the critical care infant, child, and maternity transports. The ITT have completed advanced training and provide emergency medical care to pediatric, neo-natal and high-risk obstetric patients.

The BC Ambulance Service air ambulance fleet consists of six fixed-wing aircraft, five Beechcraft Super King Air 350 turboprops and one Cessna Citation Encore jet. Additional aircraft are chartered on an as-needed basis. The BCAS also operates four dedicated air ambulance helicopters, two based in Vancouver and one based in both Prince Rupert and Kamloops. BCAS also utilizes approximately 40 pre-qualified charter carriers throughout British Columbia.[4]

Shifts

There are four different part-time shifts, and five main full-time shifts used at BC Ambulance stations. The two main part-time shifts are designated Kilo and Foxtrot, but Juliet and Mike are also used. The five full-time shifts are Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo.

Full-time shift patterns

An Alpha shift pattern provides continuous coverage with one ambulance and is divided into two 12-hour shifts (0630-1830 & 1830-0630), or a 10-hour day-shift plus a 14-hour night-shift (0800-1800 & 1800-0800), depending on the station.

Bravo and Charlie shifts are 11 hours long, with Bravo starting in the morning (e.g., 0730-1830) and Charlie starting in the afternoon (e.g., 1300-0000). At busier stations, paramedics may work a Bravo/Charlie pattern where the first two days of the block are on Bravo and the final two days of the block are on Charlie; Charlie patterns are always supplemented by Bravo for peak coverage in the afternoon. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie patterns operate on a platoon cycle of four days on and four days off in a 56-day cycle. This means a 48-hour block for Alpha but, since it is over a period of eight days, averages out to a 42-hour work week. Similarly, for Bravo and Charlie, the block may be 44 hours in duration but the average work week is 38.5 hours.

Delta and Echo patterns differ in that they do not necessarily follow the standard platoon cycle of 'four and four'. Delta, for example, is on a 70-day cycle and provides a 35-hour work week, through various patterns. These shifts may be 12.5 hours long with a "four and six" pattern, a 7-hour shift on a standard Mon-Fri work-week or a 10-hour shift on a "four and three" alternating with "three and four" pattern. Lastly, a Delta pattern may be 10-hour shifts following the regular platoon cycle of "four and four". Delta patterns are almost exclusively reserved for Dispatch but are also used on two Transfer Fleet shift patterns (X-Ray and Uniform). An Echo shift, on the other hand, is 10 hours long and can start at any time during the day depending on the area's needs. If scheduled, it is usually a day shift at a smaller station and is reserved for a full-time Unit Chief and their partner. Echo is also the standard shift pattern for Transfer Fleet but these shifts are called different names according to start time. Echo patterns are typically Tuesday through Friday or Monday through Thursday, providing a 40-hour work week on a 56-day cycle.

Part-time shift patterns

Kilo shifts are strictly on-call and paramedics respond to a pager. A kilo-responding paramedic must answer a page by calling dispatch within two minutes but there is no requirement to arrive at the station within a set time. However, most on-call paramedics carry their uniform with them and do not engage in any activity that they cannot drop at a moments notice (including other employment obligations). Each Kilo call-out generates a minimum of four hours of pay, as long as the crew returns to the station before each successive call. The Kilo stipend, called "pager pay", is currently set at $2.00 per hour and is paid regardless of whether work is performed during the shift. There is no pager pay for working past the end of a shift, unless the same paramedic is scheduled for back-to-back kilo shifts. On-call paramedics are not expected to perform any duties and need not even be at the station until they receive a page out.

Foxtrot is a compromise between a full-time shift and a Kilo shift. Paramedic crews on this shift pattern are said to be on "standby" and are required to be in their ambulance within 90 seconds of the page or phone call, just like a regular full-time unit. The Foxtrot stipend is currently $11.67 per hour and is increased to the full hourly wage for a minimum of three hours when a call is dispatched to the crew. As with Kilo, the crew is not expected to perform any duties while on standby. Should a call come in, the crew is considered to be "activated" for 3 hours and is under the direction of your dispatcher for that time. Unlike Kilo, if another call is dispatched to the crew within those three hours, no further pay is accumulated. After the three-hour window or on returning to the station past the three-hour activation period, the crew returns to standby status until another call is dispatched.

Juliet shifts are 12-hours long and are normally prescheduled but may be authorized as a last-minute stopgap measure. They are staffed by part-time or irregularly-scheduled full-time paramedics and may begin at any time. Typically, Juliet shifts are used to up-staff a station or region in cases of expected high call-volume or to back-fill for a crew that has left on an airevac.

Transfer fleet patterns

The Transfer Fleet that operates out of many Vancouver Post and Fraser Valley stations is used for routine and stat transfers. It is its own separate post, called B88 (B = 2, for Region 2). In principle, these units are meant to ease the workload of the Emergency Fleet and ensure those are available for emergency calls. At the inception of the Transfer Fleet, all units were designated Tango but they are currently called by different names, depending on their start time. With some exceptions, their shifts follow the Echo pattern, as outlined above. Notably, Papa imitates the Bravo pattern, as it is an 11-hour shift on a platoon cycle.

In smaller posts, Kilo is first choice for transfers so that the duty car (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Echo or Foxtrot) can be available for emergencies. In practice, the duty car may be used for short transfers within the normal response area, especially if Kilo (or Foxtrot) are occupied.

Training

Paramedics in BC obtain their initial training before employment by pursuing either their EMR or PCP License at their own cost.

EMR training is available through a variety of instructional agencies throughout the province. EMR courses that are approved by the EMA Licensing Board include those offered by the College of the Rockies, Paramedic Academy of the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), St. John Ambulance SJA, the Academy of Emergency Training, EMP Canada, First Aid Certified Training Systems, Vancouver Island University Centre for Continuing Studies and Okanagan College Continuing Studies.

Primary Care Paramedic training is offered by the Paramedic Academy under the School of Health Sciences at the Justice Institute of BC. Advanced Care Paramedic training is only available through the Paramedic Academy.

All ITT and CCP training is conducted 'in-house' by BCAS Clinical Education Division in conjunction with BC Women's, BC Children's, Vancouver General, St. Paul's hospitals and BCIT.

The EMA Licensing Board maintains a list of approved training agencies available to potential students. Those students who do not complete one of the approved courses will not be permitted to apply for a licensing examination.

Clinical Education is the Division of BC Ambulance Service that provides Paramedic development once a Paramedic has been hired. The main goal of the Clinical Education Division is to support the delivery of quality patient care through curriculum development and course presentation. A new employee can expect to be offered about 11 courses of paid training in their first six months of service. These courses may include:

In addition, new employees must pass a driving preceptorship prior to being allowed to drive Code 3 (lights & sirens). BCAS fosters an environment of lifelong learning and offers a combination of face-to-face and online educational opportunities for Paramedic development.

Licensing and qualifications

Paramedics qualified in British Columbia are broadly referred to as Emergency Medical Assistants and are licensed by the Emergency Medical Assistants (EMA) Licensing Board (EMALB), a government regulatory agency, under one of five categories:[5]

EMR and PCP are Basic Life Support (BLS) qualifications while ACP is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) qualification; ITT has some pediatric advanced protocols; CCP has a whole different scope of practice. BCAS treatment guidelines are universal, which a qualified practitioner may employ at any time, up to his or her license qualification, within the provincial borders, given that the required equipment is at hand. Licensing qualifications and endorsements can be found in the EMA Regulations under Schedule 1 and Schedule 2.

Emergency medical responder

An emergency medical responder (EMR) licensee is qualified to deliver a limited number of medications, under the class of 'symptom relief', including ASA, nitrous oxide, nitroglycerin and oral glucose. They are also qualified in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and may monitor an existing IV line. Their protocols include cardiac arrest, cardiac chest pain, diabetic emergencies, and management of pain using nitrous oxide. The "Schedule 2" endorsements appear as "symptom relief" and "iv maint".

Schedule 1

EMR Licence Qualifications:[6]

Schedule 2

EMR Licence Endorsements:[6]

Primary care paramedic

The vast majority of paramedics in BC are primary care paramedic.

In addition to the EMR guidelines, PCP licensees have treatment guidelines for shortness of breath (SOB), anaphylaxis, opioid overdose, an expanded diabetic emergencies and a catch-all for people with a decreased level of consciousness not yet diagnosed (NYD) that combines the diabetic/hypoglycemic and opioid OD guidelines. PCP-qualified paramedics may also be endorsed for intravenous cannulation (PCP-IV) and will have an additional guidelines for hypovolemia as well as enhancements to the anaphylaxis, diabetic, opioid OD and NYD guidelines. Additional PCP-level medications include salbutamol, naloxone, glucagon, epinephrine, diphenhydramine, thiamine (thiamine has been removed as treatment), dextrose 10% (D10W), TXA, dimenhydrinate and normal saline.

BCAS Medical Leadership has introduced 'Treatment Guidelines', which is a more generalized framework within which paramedics can operate with more flexibility and clinical decision making.

The "Schedule 2" endorsements appear on the PCP licence as "IV" or "ET".

Schedule 1 - PCP Licence Qualifications[6]

Schedule 2 - PCP Licence Endorsements[6]

Infant transport team

Infant transport team (ITT) paramedics are specifically trained for critical care of perinatal, neonatal and pediatric patients. They respond as an equally qualified team of two and sometimes take a physician with them for critically ill patients. When dispatched on street calls these are targeted response ambulances that often assist or intervene when necessary, but can hand a more stable patient off to a layered or co-responding PCP ambulance. The team currently consists of only 26 specially trained paramedics for the entire province.

In addition to the PCP protocols and medications, they may also administer Acetaminophen, Adenosine, Atropine Sulphate, Calcium Chloride, Dextrose 50%, Dimenhydrinate (Gravol), Hemabate, Indomethacin, Lorazepam, Magnesium Sulphate, Midazolam (Versed), Morphine Sulphate, Ondansetron, Oxytocin, Sodium Bicarbonate and Out-of-Scope medications with orders from a CCTA. ITT paramedics have their own unique set of prehospital treatment guidelines that mirror ACP guidelines in the areas of pediatrics, having the ability to treat respiratory/cardiac arrest and disrhythmias. The ITT practitioner also has adult ACLS guidelines and intubation in the event they encounter an adult cardiac arrest.

Their additional training and skills include the use and monitoring of Incubators, Endotracheal (ET) Intubation, Intraosseous (IO) Access, nasogastric (NG) tube insertion and suctioning, manual defibrillation, cardioversion, chest decompression, Venous pressure monitoring, Arterial & Central Line Monitoring, Chest Tube Management, transthoracic pacing, Blood Product Infusion, IV Infusion Devices, 'IV with Medication' Maintenance, Mechanical Ventilation (using the LTV 1000 and 1200 and BMD CrossVent), Foreign body removal with laryngoscope, ET/IO/PR drug administration, Central & Parenteral Line Management, Venous & Arterial blood sample collection, point of collection analysis of ABG's and chemistry using the I-Stat, Lab & X-ray interpretation.

The ITT paramedics also transport pediatric and adult ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) patients with a perfusionist from BC Children's.

While there are some areas of overlap between ACP and ITT, the additional ITT 'Airevac' class of skills that are not included in the standard ACP skill-set are Venous Pressure Monitoring, Arterial & Central Line Monitoring, Chest Tube Management, Blood Product Infusion, Mechanical Ventilation, nitric oxide delivery systems and Out-of-Scope Medications by orders.

Schedule 1

ITT Licence Qualifications[6]

Schedule 2

ITT Licence Endorsements

Advanced care paramedic

Although there are relatively few advanced care paramedic (ACP)-staffed ambulances compared to PCP, the majority of the population is covered by ALS service. These are targeted response units with two ACP-qualified paramedics. They are able to defer transport of a more stable patient to a layered or co-responding PCP ambulance. This ensures that most patients have access to ACP but that the resource is not tied up on a call they are not needed on. It also ensures that ACP-qualified paramedics treat a "critical mass" of the most acutely ill patients, thereby maintaining their high skill level.

ACP paramedics have protocols to administer all PCP plus Adenosine, Calcium Chloride, Dextrose 50%, Dimenhydrinate (Gravol), Ipratropium Bromide (Atrovent), Lidocaine, Morphine Sulphate and Amiodarone (Cordarone). Their additional skills include synchronized cardioversion, airway isolation devices, endotracheal intubation, end-tidal CO2 monitoring, external jugular vein cannulation, transcutaneous pacing, IV colloid/crytalloid volume expanders, nasopharangeal airways, needle thoracentesis and surgical or needle cricothyrotomy.

Schedule 1 - ACP Licence Qualifications[6]

Schedule 2 - ACP Licence Endorsements[6]

Critical care paramedic

Critical care paramedic (CCPs) are paired in British Columbia.

To become qualified at this level, experienced ACP paramedics take further training consisting of a portion of the CCRN program through BCIT, followed by an intensive hospital-based program through St. Paul's Hospital. Next, there is a work experience portion, and finally, CCP licensure. Formerly, an ACP could take a much shorter course and receive a "Full Schedule 2" endorsement.

CCP's have standard operating guidelines for common critical patients; SIRS/Sepsis, RSI, Chest decompression, Ventilation strategies using the LTV 1000 and 1200, ACS and coronary care, etc. CCP paramedics sometimes take an intensivist with them, but consult with Critical Care Transport advisors.

CCP qualifications follow the NOCP guidelines as endorsed by the Paramedic Association of Canada. In addition to standard ACP protocols, the CCP can perform Schedule 2 ACP skills and procedures as well as administer virtually any medication following assessment and consult with the Critical Care Transport Advisor (CCTA). CCTAs are essential to both the air-evacuation and ground critical care transport programs.

Schedule 1 - CCP Licence Qualifications[6]

Schedule 2 - CCP Licence Endorsements

Labour mobility

With the introduction of the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), the process of transferring one's license between provincial jurisdictions has been streamlined.

Hiring process

The basic requirements to become employed by the BCAS as of August 15, 2007 are:[7]

At this time, EMR-qualified staff are only permitted to work in remote and rural stations and must upgrade to PCP if they wish to further their career with the BCAS, including lateral transfers to an Urban or Metro-designated station on a part-time basis or application for a full-time posting. The exceptions to this rule include applications to one of the Dispatch Centres or to the Metro Vancouver Transfer Fleet, both of which require only an EMR qualification; these are internal applications for current BCAS employees only.

The interview consists of a behavioural interview with a panel of two to three Unit chiefs (and may include a Regional Superintendent or HR personnel) and is approximately 1 hour long. It may be held at a regional Human Resources office or at a given ambulance station where the applicant is under consideration. The interview follows the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format. After an applicant completes the interview he or she will not find out the results for another 1–3 months. If unsuccessful at the interview stage, the applicant may be told he or she cannot re-apply for a period of 6 months.

If the applicant passes the interview, they are entered into the hiring pool and ranked according to their score on the written exam and interview. From this point, the prospective employee may be contacted by a Unit chief that is hiring. After passing the interview stage, a physical fitness assessment, a medical assessment and two criminal record checks will be conducted. Assuming all goes well, the applicant is then hired into the service at a specific ambulance station, called a 'primary operator'. Once issued an employee number, they are deemed eligible to work and the employee enters into a six-month probationary period. If the applicant is hired as underqualified (i.e., hired without a Class 4 driver's license or other specific training), conditions of probation may be imposed such that the person must obtain certain qualifications before their probation is up or they may be released from the service. During probation, a paramedic may not move to another station (called a lateral transfer) or work at any other BCAS station (often called working at a 'secondary operator'). The probationary period may be extended at the discretion of the Executive Director; this requires both the signature of the Unit Chief and the District Superintendent, as well as notification to the individual prior to the extension.

Research initiatives

Uniform issue

Rank and qualification insignia

The BC Ambulance Service is a uniformed organization and as such, has a similar rank structure to most police or fire departments. The medical qualifications of a uniformed member are denoted with collar insignia, commonly known as 'collar dogs', while rank is denoted using epaulettes. Excluded management and administrative employees in regional offices and provincial headquarters do not wear uniforms.

Current qualifications designated by collar dogs include EMR, PCP, ACP, ITT, EMCT and EMD. The EMR and PCP levels are shown on bronze and silver circles, respectively, forming the BCAS logo, along with a circumform bar below, denoting the EMR or PCP qualification. ACP and ITT (Infant Transport Team) paramedics are recognized with gold cauducei, with either "ALS" or "Neonatology" imprinted upon them. CCP (Critical Care Paramedics) have a gold coloured shield with blue star of life and CCP on it. Within the Communication Centres, EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) and EMCT (Emergency Medical Call Taker) are designated by gold and silver shields, respectively.

For rank insignia, Paramedics and dispatchers who hold the position of Unit Chief or Charge Dispatcher wear a black epaulette with three gold stripes. District Supervisors and Dispatch Supervisors wear the same coloured epaulette with four gold stripes while Dispatch Officers wear two gold stripes. Ranks above District Supervisor are management positions and are distinguished by a varying number of pips on their epaulette. District and Platoon Superintendents wear an epaulette with three pips, Managers wear one pip and one crown, Directors wear two pips and one crown and the Executive Director of a region will wear three pips plus a crown. Each station and dispatch centre has a staff member designated as its Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) representative. These paramedics and dispatchers are identified with a black epaulette with a single royal blue bar. Staff who are designated as OSH representatives hold no supervisory authority, but are available to assist staff with safe work practices. BC Ambulance instructional staff wear a black epalette with the word "INSTRUCTOR" embroidered in gold, facing laterally.

Shoulder flashes for field staff arenavy blue with a navy blue trim, and include the British Columbia Coat of Arms, with the words "Ambulance" above, and "British Columbia" below, both in white.

Other pins and insignia

Labour relations

Ambulance paramedics, emergency medical call-takers, and emergency medical dispatchers are members of the Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia (APBC) Local 873 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Provincial headquarters and administrative staff are members of the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU).

Community involvement

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Branch".
  2. 1 2 "BCEHS factsheet" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Shew, Frances (January 2014). "Map BCAS Stations Districts.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Critical Care Program". BCAS. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  5. ↑ Health, Ministry of. "Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board - Province of British Columbia". admin.moh.hnet.bc.ca. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Emergency Medical Assistants Regulation". www.bclaws.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  7. ↑ "Careers". www.bcehs.ca. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
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