College of Paramedics Effective April 1
NOTE: A full list of the Council of the College of Paramedics members follows the release.
The College of Paramedics will come into effect on April 1, making paramedicine a self-regulated profession in Nova Scotia.
In 2015, the province passed the Paramedics Act to establish the College of Paramedics. The college will serve as the regulatory body for more than 1,400 paramedics in Nova Scotia.
“Paramedics play an increasingly important role in our health-care system, not only as first responders, but also providing palliative care support and working alongside doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals,” said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine. “Paramedics will now have a stronger voice in the health system, with more opportunities to enhance and advance their profession.”
Paramedics will join 21 other self-regulated health professions in the province. As a self-regulated profession the college will provide oversight, be accountable for its members, manage public complaints and discipline and set the standards that Nova Scotia paramedics will follow.
“Public safety and quality patient care are always our top priorities,” said Dr. Andrew Travers, provincial medical director, Emergency Health Services, and a member of the incoming College of Paramedics Council. “Self-regulation means that licensed paramedics have, and work to maintain, the necessary qualifications and skills, which will mean high quality care for Nova Scotians.”
Government provided a one-time $350,000 subsidy to help establish the College of Paramedics. After that, the college will be financed through member dues collected from paramedics.
The College of Paramedics will be governed by a council, made up of paramedics and members of the public, that will oversee all operations. The inaugural council includes paramedics, the provincial medical director, members of the public, and members from the College of Registered Nurses and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.
For more information about the College of Paramedics, visit www.cpns.ca.
Nova Scotia College of Paramedics Governing Council members:
Provincial medical director, Emergency Health Services:
- Dr. Andrew Travers, three-year term
Paramedic members:
- Steven Menzies, Berwick, three-year term
- Jonathan M. Akin, Kentville, two-year term
- Bruce Sangster, Amherst, two-year term
- Tanya Snow, Mulgrave, three-year term
- Ryan Brown, Sydney, three-year term
- Paul Landriault, Port Hawkesbury, two-year term
- Karl Kowalczyk, Halifax, two-year term
- David Kent Matherson, Halifax, two-year term
Public members:
- Douglas Lloy, Stellarton, three-year term
- Guy James Williams, Dartmouth, three-year term.
- Louis Staple, Dartmouth, two-year term
College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia member:
- Donna Denney, two-year term
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia member:
- Dr. Elizabeth Mann, two-year term