Thank you to everyone that tuned into the Annual Members’ Meeting on Wednesday last week. Over 673 members registered and there were 183 participants in Pigeonhole asking and voting on questions. We received a total of 55 questions and 24 of those were answered live. As a reminder, the AMM will remain available for viewing online and can be claimed for 6 CE credits for this CC cycle. Please reach out to communications@ABparamedics.com if you have any issues accessing the recording or receiving your certificate of attendance.
For those who were unable to attend last week and have not yet had a chance to watch the recording, here is a brief overview of some important news that was shared.
Two new resources can be accessed from your member site or member portal. The first is the Social Media Guidelines for Paramedic Practitioners, a tool for anyone wanting guidance on how to professionally present themselves online. Second, the College has shared a second course on its Learning Management System. This course on Penthrox, a newly approved pain management tool, can be completed for 6 CE credits, and for an endorsement for PCPs. The College is excited to continue expanding this system, so watch out for updates on the next course soon.
On the regulatory side, the College will now be carrying out three Continuing Competence audits per year, rather than one larger-scale audit. Going forward, practitioners may be randomly selected for a CC audit in October, January or March. If you have any questions about the audit or CC credits, please reach out to CC@ABparamedics.com.
A topic that continues to garner a lot of interest is the new provincial curriculum framework going into effect in 2027. This framework will primarily reshape the scope and structure of PCP and ACP education, with some minor changes to both EMR and the future CCP programs. The College is still in discussions with educators regarding the proposed Bachelor of Paramedicine degree program. Many of the questions submitted to Pigeonhole during the AMM were regarding this new curriculum and degree program, and we look forward to answering all of these questions in the upcoming AMM recap posted here, in The Pulse. For now, you can always refer to the previously posted FAQs from the recent survey on the topic.
The College also celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, and has designed custom challenge coins for the occasion. These will soon be available to purchase for any member excited to carry a physical token of their membership to this incredible profession.
I feel honored that my last year on Council has been spent celebrating this milestone. When I joined Council in 2019, I wanted to help forge a new path for the College. Since then, I have learned so much about how Council and the College operates, and how much work constantly goes on behind the scenes to create good, lasting change. I am proud of the work we have done together, all of us. As my final message as President, I want to extend my sincere respect and gratitude to the hardworking College staff, the dedicated Council members, the passionate paramedic associations and especially to you, the members. You show up every day for those in need, even when you are exhausted, sick, drained or emotionally battered. Your compassion and commitment to protecting the people of this province never fails to inspire me. As I step into my final months as Council President, I truly feel that we are on the right path forward. I look forward to sharing that future with you all.
Thank you,
Adam Swendsen, ACP
President