The Alberta College of Paramedics is mandated to regulate the paramedic profession in the public’s best interest and safety. We make sure that regulated members are held to a high standard providing only the best care to Albertans.
The public’s best interests and the members are often mutually beneficial. Our role in protecting the public also extends beyond regulating those who are already part of the profession but also protecting against individuals who attempt to operate within the profession using false or misleading information, undermining the integrity of the profession and its members. The work of the College acts as a safeguard for not only the public but for yourself as a paramedicine professional who takes great pride in the work that you do.
Scenario:
Taylor applies for a position with an industrial medical services company in Alberta. On Taylor’s resume and during the hiring process, she represents herself as a registered Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and provides what appears to be a registration number when requested by the employer.
After being hired, Taylor begins providing on-site medical services, including patient assessments and interventions that would normally be performed by regulated paramedic professionals. Taylor also wears clothing and identification that displays the title “EMR” and introduces herself to patients and co-workers using the protected title.
Several months later, another employer attempts to verify Taylor’s registration status through the Alberta College of Paramedics’ Verify a Member system. No registration record can be found. Further inquiries reveal that the registration number provided by Taylor belongs to another individual and that she is not a regulated member of the College.
The employer immediately reports this information to the College. As part of the College’s formal, concerns are also raised that Taylor may have been performing restricted activities while providing medical services. These activities require specific authorization and competence under Alberta legislation and may only be performed by appropriately trained and regulated healthcare professionals.
Upon further review, it is determined that Taylor was not authorized to use the title “Emergency Medical Responder” and was not legally permitted to represent themselves as a regulated member of the Alberta College of Paramedics. Furthermore, any restricted activities performed by Taylor would have been conducted without the authority required under the Health Professions Act and the Paramedics Profession Regulation.
As a follow up, the College sends Taylor a cease and desist letter outlining the following:
- She must immediately stop using the title Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) in any correspondence, or in any other setting in dealings with the public or elsewhere
- She must immediately refrain from performing any restricted activities in any setting in Alberta
- Lastly, the letter advises her that the College is empowered to seek an injunction from the Courts preventing her use of this restricted title and performing restricted activities if she does not comply with the instructions outlined
In this example, Taylor’s actions are a severe risk to public safety by misrepresenting her qualifications, professional status and providing care outside her educational scope. The titles of EMR, PCP, ACP and CCP are protected under legislation and may only be used by regulated members authorized to do so. The public relies on these titles as an indication that an individual has met educational, competency and regulatory requirements and is accountable to a professional regulator.
This scenario highlights the importance of ensuring that only authorized individuals use protected paramedic titles and perform restricted activities. It also highlights how employers, regulated members and members of the public all play an important role in supporting public protection by verifying credentials and reporting concerns when unauthorized practice is suspected. The use of protected titles or the performance of restricted activities without authorization undermines public trust, places patients at and challenges the integrity of the profession and the vital work of its members. Additionally, this protects the job opportunities of our members ensuring they have every available opportunity for career development and advancement.