Primary Care Paramedic Program
Program Overview
RATIONALE AND SCOPE OF COURSE
The Professional Medical Associates’ Primary Care Paramedic Program has been specifically designed to address the needs of EMRs looking to upgrade. Those completing this program would be eligible for registration as Primary Care Paramedics with the Alberta College of Paramedics. The course is based as a completer program, so many of the components previously addressed in our EMR course will be briefly reviewed to ensure retention without constant repetition. The course also includes the information required to cover the latest scope of practice for PCP personnel. This includes material presently in Schedule 18 – Paramedic Regulations of the Health Professions Act, as well as the new Alberta Competency Profile from the Alberta College of Paramedics and the National Occupational Competency Profile of the Paramedic Association of Canada at the Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) level.
Those enrolling in the program must have completed the Emergency Medical Responder (or FMR) program. The focus of the completion program is on the assessment of the patient – strategies to assess particular portions of the body rather than rote memorization of phrases and the ability to assimilate information. Competency for entrants is assessed by completion of a practical scenario at the EMR level, and the successful completion of the selection process.