Medics requiring to maintain a license

[medicineman]

Doctors created a system where doctors hold higher rank and are in charge.

DGHS during Rx 2000 was Lise Mathieu...who was not a doc, but HSO via RN IIRC. The "Surgeon General" was Scott Cameron, a mere Colonel then...whose 4 rings stacked up were as tall as he was.

Much like in civilian health care, many health care admin positions are/were RN's or other non MD's/retreads from other classifications or CFR'd SNCO's/WO's, who funnily enough, are in charge/command of docs, with the exception of actual medical directorships.

As for the issue of pulling new MD's into the military and promoting them with minimal if any staff training (LCol specialists that haven't taken any command courses as a for instance), I've always been a firm believer that the CAF should make better use of MMTP - this way the docs aren't being tossed to the wolves right out of residency and into a uniform with minimal military indoctrination. Seen many "mentors" lead baby docs down the wrong paths, both by their own Sgt's/WO's and regimental/battalion officers from the units they support - having been an officer or NCO going into that would allow the doc to hit the ground running and be able to look at people trying to pull the wool over their eyes and go "Nice try Phuquee". I have seen that backfire of course - a CM I was a witness for was an MMTP doc that went kinda rogue...

 

[Blackadder1916]

DGHS during Rx 2000 was Lise Mathieu...who was not a doc, but HSO via RN IIRC. The "Surgeon General" was Scott Cameron, a mere Colonel then...whose 4 rings stacked up were as tall as he was.

Lise was an HCA. I don't think she was ever an RN or anything else clinical; IIRC she was either a DEO or maybe a civi-U ROTP (back when the most common path for HCA was from the ranks or reclassified from an operational MOC, e.g. combat arms).

 

[medicineman]

Lise was an HCA. I don't think she was ever an RN or anything else clinical; IIRC she was either a DEO or maybe a civi-U ROTP (back when the most common path for HCA was from the ranks or reclassified from an operational MOC, e.g. combat arms).

I stand corrected.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

So, let me see if I have this right.

A medic gets qualified on their 3's.
Registration with the proper provincial entity is paid for.
Renewals are paid for.
Any work outside the military, in the field qualified for, would require that certification.
But they just can't be bothered to spend five minutes on the computer to renew?

Have I got that right?

 

[mariomike]

Reply #7 in this thread.

Medics are not maintaining their PCP licence for the same reason that they are not completing their yearly MCSP requirements. And its not because Med techs lack motivation or drive.
I have been a Medic for 11 years. I'm on my 6Th posting, and have been licensed as a PCP in 5 different provinces. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to maintain a licence but I have finally given up. 11 years in, and I have only had 2 shifts on Amb through the MCSP program.
Until the CoC gets serious about providing real MCSP for Medics (that EHS in Canada will honor), most Medics will not be able to maintain a licence.

Medical Technician - Unskilled, Semi-skilled, Skilled Application​

The issue I've found is that I was licensed in BC upon completion of my PCP. Now I'm posted in Ontario and I asked about challenging the Ontario exam to become licensed here. I was told that the unit will only pay for QL5's to do this. I also haven't received any opportunities for MCSP, and I've been posted for over 2 years now. So now my license in BC has expired and I do not hold any sort of qualification in Ontario. I'd hoped the military would have been more supportive of keeping us Med Tech's licensed so that the training we'd received would be more useful.

Paramedicine is provincially regulated. Requirements and issue of a licence to practice are set by the individual regulators.

This is from August 2012 Toronto Paramedic Services Education & Development Unit.

Maybe the policy has changed since then.

"Back in 2007 the military approached the MOHLTC to accept their QL5 Med Techs if trained at JIBC, to be permitted to challenge the AEMCA. In the past the Ministry has permitted this, but has required an additional of 120 hrs minimum of field placement in Ontario.

To obtain these hours you could participate in a Med Tech Field Placement Program. Currently there are several Military Med Tech Field Placement Programs that have been implemented across Ontario. This Program offers Med Techs both QL3 and QL5 the opportunity to obtain these 120 hours, in addition to having the ability to be Temporarily Certified to perform Medical Directives consist ( sic ) with that of a Primary Care Paramedic in Ontario while doing their ride alongs. Some services that currently offer this program are: Ottawa, Toronto, Renfrew County, and possibly Simcoe County. There may be a couple other services that offer it as well.

In the past three years we have offered this program to 57 Med Techs.

The process generally calls for writing the AEMCA in addition to possibly a practical skills test (has been done in the past - but not always depending on qualifications and education)."



There was an agreement posted on the CFHS website between the CF and the Ontario MOHLTC allowing QL5's to challenge the AEMCA exam.

The link no longer works.

"Recognition of QL5A & Challenge of AEMCA exam:

Reference A is a confirmation letter by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch, recognizing the CF QL5 Med Tech as meeting the PCP requirements to challenge the AEMCA exam, all QL5 Med Techs are encouraged to prepare for and write this exam with approval through their Chain of Command. Upon successful completion of this exam, those Med Techs will have access to On-car opportunities to complete their MCSP in Ontario."

A decision was made that going forward, all CAF HS occupations would hold an equivalent civilian license or certification. That is when the PCP qualified Med Tech appeared in the Reg F. We (at the coal face) knew from the very outset that it was just not sustainable for a variety of reasons. PCP was seen as the one qual that was accepted (mostly) across Canada, allowing our pers to be posted, or employed on DOMOPS without too much difficulty. Reality was very different though, as has been noted above.

​

 

[Skysix]

Reply #7 in this thread.

Medical Technician - Unskilled, Semi-skilled, Skilled Application​

Paramedicine is provincially regulated. Requirements and issue of a licence to practice are set by the individual regulators.

This is from August 2012 Toronto Paramedic Services Education & Development Unit.

Maybe the policy has changed since then.

​

Provincial protectionism. BC, Ontario and Quebec have it in spades.

 

[medicineman]

So, let me see if I have this right.

A medic gets qualified on their 3's.
Registration with the proper provincial entity is paid for.
Renewals are paid for.
Any work outside the military, in the field qualified for, would require that certification.
But they just can't be bothered to spend five minutes on the computer to renew?

Have I got that right?

Some people think the military should pay it for them?

 

[mariomike]

From an SME ( Major ) "at the coal face".

That is when the PCP qualified Med Tech appeared in the Reg F. We (at the coal face) knew from the very outset that it was just not sustainable for a variety of reasons. PCP was seen as the one qual that was accepted (mostly) across Canada, allowing our pers to be posted, or employed on DOMOPS without too much difficulty. Reality was very different though, as has been noted above.

 

[sarahsmom]

So, let me see if I have this right.

A medic gets qualified on their 3's.
Registration with the proper provincial entity is paid for.
Renewals are paid for.
Any work outside the military, in the field qualified for, would require that certification.
But they just can't be bothered to spend five minutes on the computer to renew?

Have I got that right?

Renewal of licensing is not paid for by the CAF for medics. Registration with each province a medic moves to is also not paid for. Also, there are no script points or bonus PER/PAR points/mentions for maintaining license.
Some of us have kept our original license (from BC in my case) current because we want to but it’s all out of my own pocket.

 

[da1root]

Renewal of licensing is not paid for by the CAF for medics. Registration with each province a medic moves to is also not paid for. Also, there are no script points or bonus PER/PAR points/mentions for maintaining license.
Some of us have kept our original license (from BC in my case) current because we want to but it’s all out of my own pocket.

This one of the ones that makes me scratch my head.

To be eligible for a PLAR to join the CAF as semi-skilled you need the course and a provincial license (within the last 5 years); and all other clinical occupations get funding to renew their licenses. I actually had to turn away a PLAR for a previous RegF member who had spent X number of years as a Medical Tech (more than 5); got out and was trying to re-enter under the skilled program; because they hadn't had a license to practice as a Paramedic in the last 5 years they had to go get a license before anything could proceed.

We will see what comes of the occupational study currently happening...

 

[mariomike]

To be eligible for a PLAR to join the CAF as semi-skilled you need the course and a provincial license (within the last 5 years);

Not sure about licensure out of province.

This is for Ontario Primary Care Paramedic ( PCP )

1. Successfully completed a MOHLTC-recognized course for Primary Care Paramedic provided by a College of Applied Arts and Technology or equivalent.
2. Successfully completed the Advanced Emergency Medical Care Assistant (AEMCA) examination or be AEMCA pending as specified in the Ontario Ambulance Act.
3. Must be able to achieve and maintain current certification in Symptom Relief and Defibrillation under the Ontario Base Hospital Group and meet cross-certification requirements with Sunnybrook Base Hospital.
4. Must produce proof of mandatory immunization and maintain all immunizations as required and specified by the Ontario Ambulance Act and the City of Toronto.
5. Must possess a Class F Ontario Driver’s License, or better, and meet all requirements for licence maintenance as set forth in the City of Toronto’s Fleet policy and be able to qualify for the City’s equipment operating permits.
6. Must not be convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude for which a pardon has not been granted.
7. Must meet all requirements for employment as a Paramedic in Ontario as per the Ambulance Act.
8. Must not have had Driver’s License suspended for three years prior to application, and not have more than three demerit points issued against his/her Ontario driver’s licence.
9. Ability to pass oral, written and physical examinations pertaining to procedures used in emergency patient care at the discretion of the division.
10. Thoroughly familiar with the Highway Traffic Act and Municipal Traffic By-laws.
11. Must be physically capable of performing required duties.
12. Must be available to work rotating shift/weekend/night/overtime/on call duty in all environmental conditions.
13. Must be familiar with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations that apply to this work.
14. Proficiency in a second language would be an asset.
15. Relevant work experience (i.e. paramedic, RN, MD, military, policing, any medical field) would be an asset.
16. Relevant volunteer experience (i.e. crisis, community involvement, mental health, shelters, etc.) would be an asset.