Paramedics Rely on Expanding Scope of Practice to Improve Rural ...

<strong>Paramedics</strong> <strong>Rely</strong> onExpanding Scope ofPractice to ImproveRural Health CareBy Martin Schuldhaus, Communications Manager Alberta College of <strong>Paramedics</strong>RURAL Alberta is thriving. However, as Alberta towns and municipalities expandin population, so does the need for crucial, life-saving rural health care services.Rainbow Lake is a prime example.Built around Northern Alberta’s bustling oil and gas industry, Rainbow Lake has apopulation of just under 1,100 people located west of High Level. With the nearesthospital more than an hour away, the town has one health clinic consisting of fourtreatment rooms and two emergency beds. However, this clinic has somethingmost don’t: skilled, regulated staff paramedics with the technical experience tocomplement the most experienced nurse practitioner or rural physician.“We assess and treat patients as they come into the clinic, offering both clinicaland emergency care,” says longtime paramedic Rick Cartier. “Our expandingscope of practice makes it possible for us to provide chronic diseasemanagement, treatment plans, vaccinations and even lab services.”20 [ i s s u e 4 1 ]‘‘Increased collaborationbetween home care andparamedicine servicesmeans more rural patientswith non-urgent care needscan be assessed andtreated at home withouthaving to travel longdistance by ambulance tothe nearest hospital.”- Carol DuncanCartier says his new role is partof a pilot project introduced inSeptember 2010. This pilotproject is aimed at relieving apotential nursing shortage atthe Rainbow Lake health clinic.“When a nurse practitionerneeds time off and there’s noone to backfill, the clinic runsthe risk of shutting down,” saysthe 20-year paramedicpractitioner. “We’re basicallyfunctioning at the same levelas a nurse practitioner whileremaining within our regulatedscope of practice.”