Community Paramedic

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the Manager, ERS Operations, [North, East, South or West] Zone for daily operational concerns, and indirectly to the Provincial Manager Community Paramedicine for Community Paramedic Program direction, the Community Paramedic as a member of the ERS team is responsible for the provision of proactive client care within residential, community, and other non-traditional care settings. This role requires the Community Paramedic to have extensive knowledge of pre-hospital emergency care and additional primary health care functions.

This position will function to address the needs of individuals accessing emergency services in a proactive way, and provide an alternative model of care in the pre-hospital environment that more appropriately meets the clinical and social needs of clients. The Community Paramedic focuses on promoting the client's access to the right care, delivered by the right provider, at the right time, resulting in the best outcomes and the most effective and efficient use of resources.

The Community Paramedic provides assessment, clinical planning, and case management to clients referred to the program. They identify gaps in current service provision for clients and liaise with community organizations such as primary health care providers, home care services, social service agencies, and multiple other allied health agencies to improve access to community health services and avoid emergency room visits and overreliance on emergency services. This model provides a more sustainable, integrated, client-centered response to individuals accessing emergency services for non-urgent medical concerns.

The Community Paramedic will be required to complete formal and recognized educational programming and demonstrate competence in the provision of health education, clinical assessment and monitoring, point of care diagnostics, and treatment modalities within or beyond the scope of work and role of a traditional emergency care and transport paramedic.
At all times, this role will be expected to conduct themselves professionally, ethically, empathetically and demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision, values, goals, objectives, and policies of Shared Health.

Experience

• A combination of related training and/or experience is preferred, including:
  • 3 years of recent, relevant experience providing pre-hospital care as a Primary Care Paramedic.
  • 3 years of experience identifying, analyzing and solving complex problems as it relates to delivery of client care.
  • Experience as a Community Paramedic.
  • Competent in an Indigenous language and/or knowledge in Indigenous customs, traditions and values.
  • Working with individuals from diverse cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Experience working in client relations and/or in a customer service capacity.
  • Use of Shared Health ERS and Digital Health technology, software programs, and equipment.
  • Both official languages are essential for designated bilingual positions, to ensure health services are readily available and easily accessible in both official languages.
  • Ability to communicate in multiple languages.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

• Graduate of a Primary Care Paramedic program held by an accredited Canadian education institution, or a College of Paramedics of Manitoba approved equivalent.
• Advanced Care Paramedic Certification from an accredited education institution (Preferred).
• Successful completion of a formal Community Paramedic education program (Preferred).

Certification/Licensure/Registration

• Certificate of Practice with the College of Paramedics of Manitoba - Member in good standing, at minimum at the Primary Care Paramedic level.
• Must have a valid Class IV Manitoba driver's license.
• Basic Life Support (BLS), level C or equivalent.

Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrates and encourages others to follow the principles of the LEADS framework; Leading themselves, engaging others, achieving results, developing coalitions, and participating in System transformation.
• Desired Certifications:
  • Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS) from an accredited training provider.
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) from an accredited training provider.
  • Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) from a certified training provider.
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
  • Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS).
  • International Trauma Life Support (ITLS).
  • Violence Prevention and Protection education (VPP).
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
• Knowledge of:
  • College of Paramedics of Manitoba Standards of Practice.
  • Scope of Practice as documented in the Regulated Health Professions Act.
  • Manitoba Emergency Medical Response and Stretcher Transportation Act.
  • Manitoba Highway Traffic Act.
  • Shared Health clinical protocols, care maps and associated documents.
  • Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).
  • Other applicable Shared Health policies, procedures, guidelines, and directives.

Physical Requirements

• Applicants are required to provide a Physical Fitness Assessment by an approved fitness assessment provider.
• Applicants are required to complete a job-related written test of clinical knowledge.
• Travel by multiple vehicle types, where inclement weather conditions are anticipated. General risks of responding to a variety of ERS calls.
• Exposure to a variety of high stress, and emotionally demanding situations, and potential for exposure to communicable disease.
• Moderate to heavy physical effort required, including frequent lifting of clients and equipment.