Category: APA Member Information

Bill 21 – Association Members are Protected!

Bill 21: An Act to Protect Patients was passed on November 8 2018 to protect patients from sexual abuse and sexual misconduct by regulated health professionals in Alberta. Alberta Paramedics are regulated health professionals under the Health Professions Act.

The Alberta Paramedic Association commends the Government of Alberta for introducing legislation aimed at strengthen patient protection by introducing mandatory penalties for sexual abuse and misconduct. The Association will continue to research and develop strategies for paramedics to maintain the highest level of protection for patients from sexual abuse and sexual misconduct.

The Association is pleased to see our regulator, the Alberta College of Paramedics (College), has started its consultation process. The Association encourages all members to participate in their consultation by providing comments and feedback in their survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BM5NK87.

While we wait for the new Standard of Practice to be developed by the College, the Association wants you to become better informed on Bill 21.  We encourage all paramedics to access this link https://www.alberta.ca/protecting-patients-against-sexual-abuse.aspx to critically analyze the new legislation.

Further, the Association’s role is not only to provide awareness and voice to the members on breaking issues, but in this case, to ensure personal safety if a legal dispute arises. It is possible that there may be circumstances where paramedics may see allegations from the public that fall into the definitions within Bill 21 that may be vexatious or unfounded as part of the regular day to day work in providing care. Therefore the Association has ensured that when necessary, our members are provided with financial resources to legally defend themselves from wrongful accusations of abuse.  

The Association stresses the importance of carrying proper professional liability insurance. We want our members to know that the Association has confirmed with our insurance provider (ProLink) that members are covered for allegations involving sexual abuse and misconduct.

Bill 21 Highlights:

  • Any record of discipline or criminal conviction or conditions placed on a paramedics practice permit related to sexual abuse or misconduct must be published and for an indefinite period.  
  • A Hearing Tribunal that finds a regulated member (paramedic) guilty of sexual abuse of a patient must cancel the member’s practice permit and registration or suspend it when a paramedic is found guilty of sexual misconduct. 
  • A Patient Relations Program is to be created by each regulator, including a fund to provide treatment or counselling to patients affected by sexual abuse or misconduct by regulated health professionals.

To get the superior protection and legal resources association members have, become a member today by clicking HERE

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Alberta Paramedic Association transitions

This is the time of year for reflection. A time to consider where we have been and where we want to go.

The Alberta Paramedic Association Executive have spent the past several months not only reflecting but restructuring to establish an organization that can uphold the paramedic profession and provide for them.

The first years as an Association were spent listening to practitioners and members, hearing the frustrations and learning about the gaps that impact our ability to practice.

Initiatives were started, and many are ready for implementation, such as the expansion of the mental health registry, education workshops and various fundraisers.  However, changes within the profession, such as the transition to the Health Professions Act and the new requirements it brings, have brought other concerns and needs with them.

Hearing the challenges practitioners face with needing personal and professional liability insurance under the new legislation, the APA has arranged a liability insurance policy tailored specifically for all its members.

It was also made clear to the Alberta Paramedic Association that practitioners throughout the province didn’t feel represented and regional concerns were not being addressed. Part of the new structure includes volunteer delegates from all regions of the province to bring concerns to the Association which can advocate on their behalf or work with partners in the profession to develop the needed resources or programs, much like we did to provide support for those dealing with PTSD.

The Association is committed to hearing from practitioners and working to support them. So, in addition to delegates across Alberta, we have created a new website that provides several ways for practitioners to engage with us and share concerns that we can work collectively to lessen.

These are just some of the initiatives that have been or will be implemented in upcoming weeks to serve our members.

The APA is a collaboration of paramedics from throughout the province working in an organized and strategic manner to provide the supports the profession needs and advocate for the needs of the practitioners.

It was created by paramedics for paramedics, to which it remains dedicated. It is dedicated to you.

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Lobbying for Collaboration

On Oct 5th APA board president Dusty Myshrall, and Exec Director Marc Moebis presented to ACoP council. They brought forward updates on what has been happening both behind the scenes and operationally.

Great focus was placed on moving forward as the APA works to enhance paramedic professional practice – knowledge, skills and health & wellness of the profession. Dusty and Marc reinforced the APA vision of paramedicine having 3 separate, yet equal entities of Association, Regulation (College) and Labor (employers and unions). The college counsel heard how important it is to the APA board that all 3 of these entities collaborate for the greater good of the profession. This does not mean we always have to agree, but it does mean the Association endeavors to handle the profession with a realistic and sensible approach with the focus on working together to find innovative ways to serve the profession and our members.

As we drive forward into the HPA it is extremely important practitioners understand the role of the 3 entities so practitioners may regain control of their profession once more. The council heard that it is in the interest of the APA to empower paramedics to unite under one association and make sure they have a voice that is clearly heard as various committee’s and working groups start to define paramedicine under the HPA.

The APA was met with a warm welcome, an open ear and a great line of questions. APA members please keep an eye on your email for updates as we press onward with our various collaborative projects

Regulation
Is the organization whose role is to serve the public interest, and regulate the profession.
Within Alberta, this is the Alberta College of Paramedics.

Labor
Is the organization(s) that function to represent the operations of the profession.
In Alberta, this is a combination of the unions, public and private employers.

Association
Is the organization that serves the interest of the practitioner within their professional practice.
In Alberta that is the Alberta Paramedic Association (APA)

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Committee work commences

Committee work in the backbone of any association, Strong committee work ensures that members receive access to great programs, continuing education credits, symposiums, scholarships, and other programs offered by the association.

One of the committees will be dedicated to the HELP fund HELP stands for Helping Every Local Paramedic. The goals of this fund will include financial assistance to members who qualify due to a financial crisis, or critical emergency. This committee will be responsible for creating the application, and approval process for members in need. Watch the website for more information, if you want to donate to this fund you can donate today, follow the link on the website and help a local practitioner.

The PR committee will be responsible for public relations policy, and creating public relations items such as radio campaigns, advertising campaigns, and such items as the committee see fit. It is our hope that the PR committee will enable to show Albertans what EMS is all about, and bring our profession together as practitioners.

The policy review committee will be responsible for creating and reviewing policy necessary for the operation of the association. Policy building must be strong and renewed on a regular basis so that any policies that are in need of updating or removal can be dealt with. Sometimes polices become ineffective, or out of date, the policy review committee will ensure that our policies are current, warranted and support our association model.

The Continuing Education Committee will ensure that the continuing education offered by the association is current and approved for credit through the Alberta College of Paramedics, and is an acceptable education for renewal each year. Working with the college the committee will ensure that CE credits offered are valued, researched, and weighted for credits for renewal each year. It is our hope that the committee will be able to eventually take over the role of con-ed from the college so the college can focus on regulatory matters. We would expect the college would continue to publish modules they feel necessary or extraneous research items or other items they feel important to the regulation of the profession.

The Awards committee is a committee that would be responsible for a yearly awards banquet and naming of new awards. Awarding the scholarships sponsored by the association will also be the responsibility of this committee. It is our hope also that as we grow and develop we will be able to offer many awards, and well-funded scholarships through this committee.

You can see that we have lofty goals and high expectations. If you are able and have a desire we would invite you to submit a resume, with your desire to volunteer with the association as a part of one or more of these committees. As a founding member, we hope that you are able to help us out in one of these committees. We would love to have you.

http://www.albertaems.com/volunteer.html

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