News Release
PANB Statement on Dispute with NB Department of Health
February 26, 2007
PANB POLICY STATEMENT
19 February 2007
Since the idea and inception of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick, paramedics have worked long and hard to develop an association that is well informed, productive and progressive.
Through a Board of Directors consisting of Chapter Representation from all regions of New Brunswick, many hurdles and bumps in the road have been overcome. Board members have come and gone and the sought after goals of the PANB have changed little, that is, ensure top quality paramedics are serving the public. This has been accomplished through continuing education monitoring, liaison with educational facilities, maintaining competency levels, annual registration of active paramedics and continual urging to seek further knowledge and skills in the everyday workplace.
I would find it hard to believe there are paramedics working in the field who do not actively seek increased knowledge of pre-hospital medicine and continual upgrade of their knowledge base and skills through self-study and formal coursing. I personally have yet to meet a paramedic who chose a career in paramedicine just for the thrill of driving fast. Every one of us has a deep rooted desire to help others. Our care and concern is demonstrated every time we respond to a call for help, be it in a Nursing Home, private home, industrial site or in the ditch. We do what we do best; help those in need.
It is surprising how quickly we establish a communications bond with our patients, many of which continue on year after year. This clearly would not happen if we were distant, uncaring and unprofessional in our dealings with the public.
PANB strives for integrity, professionalism, member competency and the delivery of representation for it’s 860 members.
Your executive sought a meeting with Minister Murphy via written correspondence on 6 October 2006 when he was appointed the Minister of Health. An acknowledgement of this request was never received from his office. A second request, hand delivered, and then followed up by a telephone call, resulted in a meeting on 14 February 2007.
The results of that meeting were less than satisfactory for all parties.
Your executive have been accused of not being honest with the membership regarding what went on at that meeting, statements made, and subsequent dissemination of non-factual items of discussion.
To quote from Mr. Troy Harnish, “If Chris Hood and the BOD members present from the PANB lied, it would end careers, torpedo the entire association, and compromise every Paramedic in the Province. I don’t think any person concerned with pre-hospital care in NB would do that”.
With all of the preamble done, the following items are those of paramount importance to the association:
• Regulated knowledge base, skill sets in accordance with the National Occupancy Competency Profiles (NOCP); as established by Canada wide EMS pre-hospital medical professionals.
• Clearly defined Levels of Licensure NOCP guidelines, i.e., PCP, ACP and within a reasonable timeframe CCP;
• Clearly defined Scope of Practice, with accompanying education, profession driven, not government or employer driven;
• Continuing dialogue with government with the aim of maintaining forward momentum in attaining high quality pre-hospital care through recognition of knowledge and skill sets used in pre-hospital.
• The existing training standards for the advanced skills are weak at best and continuing this will jeopardize the abilities of the paramedics to deliver the skills effectively.
• The lack of a regulatory framework around these advanced skills will put the liability for determining competence and for any errors or omissions made by paramedics directly on the DH and the Minister.
• Experts within and outside the DH, who are experts in EMS, have endorsed our process and position. The DH has gone against these experts.
• Concessions dealing with transitional issues affecting the ability of the system to operate effectively during this transition have been accounted for and endorsed by the PANB.
• Not continuing with PANB's proposal will see the rise of qualified paramedics leaving the province, going to more progressive provinces where they can be recognized for their skills and where there is a dedicated career ladder.
• This decision is putting the lives and safety of the residents of New Brunswick at risk. If this decision is not reversed, there will be situations where people will die because of the lack of monitoring and setting high enough standards for initial training and ongoing maintenance of competency.
