Ambulance

Focus on the Paramedic Association of Canada
PAC – Ensuring Quality Paramedic
Care in Canada
Canada’s ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and
northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 3.85 million square miles. With a population of over
35M people Canada needs one heck of a good EMS system. Thanks to decades of investment,
education and training, that’s exactly what it has. Ambulance Today takes enormous pride in
welcoming the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) into our family. From 2017 onwards they
will contribute news and features on their paramedic activities to our pages and circulate this
magazine to all of their 20,000 + paramedic members.
About the Paramedic Association of
Canada (PAC)
PAC represents over 20,000 paramedic
professionals across Canada, with
participation in every province and territory
in the country. Our mission is to advance
the profession and its representation
throughout Canada. The association
promotes collegiality and advocates for
the professional interests of paramedic
practitioners across the spectrum of policy
areas and practice settings.
The Paramedic Association of Canada is
comprised of Provincial Chapters, along with
the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian
Medical Service and paramedic educators.
PAC is overseen by a Board of Directors,
composed of representatives from every
Chapter. The Board of Directors sets the
direction. Charged with putting into motion
the Board’s direction is the Executive
Committee: the President, the Chair of the
Board of Directors, the Secretary/Treasurer
and the Executive Director. We rely upon
many hundreds of dedicated professionals
across the country to deliver high quality
programs and services.
PAC’s Vision is to have Paramedicine
recognized as primary health care in
legislation and policy. Our Mission is to
provide quality care for the public through
leadership in the advancement of the
profession of paramedicine.
History
PAC was founded in June 1988 as the
Canadian Society of Ambulance Personnel
(CSAP). In 1997, CASP became the
Paramedic Association of Canada. This
name change reflected the changing scope
and functions of paramedics, in addition to
providing ambulance services.
Strategic Plan
We are pursuing three ambitious streams in
our strategic plan:
1. Membership services – including the
provision of professional liability insurance
in cooperation with Marsh Canada;
advocacy for the improved mental health of
practitioners, including those experiencing
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and quality
continuing professional development
opportunities, such as the PACE 2017
conference.
2. Improving professional practice –
through the creation of the new Canadian
Paramedic Profile, formerly the National
Occupational Competency Profile. This is
being accompanied by a new Code of Ethics
and Standards of Practice.
We are proud to collaborate with many
partners in setting increased educational
standards for entry to practice in Canada.
We work with the Paramedic Chiefs of
Canada (representing employers) and
the Canadian Organization of Paramedic
Regulators. We are engaged with the
Canadian Patient Safety Institute, and the
Canadian Standards Association – notably
in establishing competency standards for
community paramedics.
40 Winter 2016 | Ambulancetoday