Paramedics helping repatriated Canadians at CFB Trenton

Penny and Richard were in Trenton on Wednesday to support Hastings Quinte Paramedic Service during the 2019 n-CoV repatriation exercise. They watched a dry run of the plane’s arrival, reviewed the flow of patients from the paramedic point of view and spoke at length with paramedics about 2019 novel coronavirus. Hastings Quinte paramedics are helping to transport and care for people repatriated to Canada from China who are in quarantine at CFB Trenton. There are no cases reported of 2019-nCoV among those now at the base.

New Staff Announcement

Jeremiah Soucie joins the RPPEO on Monday, February 24, as one of our new Coordinators. Jeremiah comes to us after a stint in the private sector where he worked for a distillery in Prince Edward County. As a Critical Care Paramedic, Jeremiah worked for Ornge and for Nova Scotia's Emergency Health Services to name just a couple of the several paramedic positions he's held.

RPPEO version X.X

Staying on top of the newest and best practices in paramedicine is a constant effort for paramedics.

But when it comes to supporting and monitoring care according to the most up to date standards, it's our own Q&PS and Education coordinators and contractors who need to stay up to date on the latest in clinical standards.

"when paramedics are looking for clinical guidance, they ask the RPPEO"

Annual Maintenance of Certification: Complete

The annual re-certification milestone is now behind us. At the end of the yearly recertification period, January 31 at midnight, MedicNet sent about 1275 paramedics in our jurisdiction their letter attesting to their authorizations for the coming year.

Along with congratulations to these paramedics for completing another year of CME and meeting RPPEO's requirements to re-certify, we have lots of thanks to the Continuing Education and Certification team for the work that goes into realizing this important yearly achievement.

Why get up early in January?

On what would have been Elvis Presley's 85th birthday, the RPPEO staffers were up early not (only) to celebrate. The duo weren't off to Graceland but to meet instructors Carl Surprenant, Jeremie Hurtubise and Sandra Ladd at 7:45 in Frontenac for the first Airway Day of 2020.

Airway Day is a twice annual opportunity for paramedics in Eastern Ontario to have A Little Less Conversation and a lot more hands-on action with airway adjuncts and advanced or basic techniques for securing and managing airways.

Fast Finishes in QA

We're on pace to set records this year on the RPPEO chart review track.

A year ago at this time, our quality assurance process was chugging along like a 1989 Honda Accord: with lots of attention and some elbow grease, we'd get from point A to point B .

Take a seat or stand there?

Last Friday, office interior specialist firm ABI walked through the Ottawa RPPEO office space taking specs for desk reconfiguration. The project management firm is rearranging all the cubicles to accommodate sit-stand desks.

Once we have the draft drawings from ABI, Ben will reach out to each person to discuss your work space and gather input for the final drawings.

While all the cubicles will be able to accommodate a sit-stand desk, the option to go for a new desk will be left up to each person.

RPPEO hopes to have the new desks installed by the end of the fiscal year.

CHEO Feedback Gets Warm Reception

RPPEO started late last year sending paramedics patient outcome info for some kids they transport to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The partnership with CHEO allows paramedics to get a glimpse of what the diagnosis was for their patients.

Staff News

Rosie's Retirement

There's just a few days left until our wonderful Rosie is off into the sunset. While Rosie is busy organizing the admin systems for others to jump into, we know she must be counting the days until this big milestone.

We're all very happy for you Rosie!

Rosie's last day in the office is June 27.

Spring CME IS COMING

With all our thoughts turning to Spring this month, the Education Team is launching the season's Continuing Medical Education for RPPEO paramedics.

Spring CME is mandatory for our Advanced Care Paramedics and optional for their Primary Care counterparts. It looks like we could have 5 of the 9 services in our region sending their Primary Care Paramedics to the Spring sessions.

Our focus on patient safety continues with medication safety as one of the Big Topics for the day of learning. We'll also be continuing to bring paramedics examples of the importance of documentation for their patients who refuse care or transport.