RPPEO News & Updates

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) is pleased to introduce the Spring 2026 Continuing Medical Education (CME) course.

Beginning on Monday March 30, 2026, paramedics will have access to the Spring 2026 CME online module via MedicLEARN. In‑class CME sessions will begin April 13, 2026.

This CME follows the established CEC hybrid model: combining either self-directed or facilitated online learning, depending on your service, with in person practical application. Spring CME is designed to support safe, effective, and current paramedic practice.

Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) certified by the RPPEO and Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs) from participating paramedic services are invited to participate. Your paramedic service will provide scheduling for those participating.

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario would like to provide a reminder to all RPPEO-certified paramedics of the annual requirements under ALS PCS Section 5.4 - Certification Standard (see the supplemental document RPPEO oversight and enforcement of the Certification Standards for further details). As part of our mandate, RPPEO is responsible for monitoring and enforcing these standards. We hope this communication assists you in planning for adjustments that RPPEO will implement in the 2026/27 certification year to better align our practices to these Standards regarding the 90-day Patient Care Standard.

RPPEO is pleased to present an important online seminar addressing Undifferentiated Loss of Consciousness on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 2-3pm ET. The webinar is presented as part of RPPEO Spring 2026 CME programming. All are welcome to attend!

Pre-eminent clinical educator and STARS Air Ambulance critical care physician Dr. Katie Lin presents a lecture packed with pearls for those encountering loss of consciousness in prehospital care. Register now! 

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) is supporting paramedic services as they implement the ALS PCS Auxiliary Directive for buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®). This directive is an important step in improving care for patients with opioid use disorder.

As part of our ongoing work to strengthen medication stewardship and controlled substances oversight, RPPEO has completed a review and revision of several internal policies. While most changes were administrative or formatting in nature, we made one substantive revision that may affect clinical work:

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) is pleased to introduce the Fall 2025 Continuing Medical Education (CME) course Critical Interventions, Critical Thinking: From Emergency Childbirth to Medication Safety.

Starting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, paramedics will have access to the Fall 2025 CME online module via MedicLEARN. This hybrid CME session is designed to enhance your critical thinking and skill mastery in essential areas of paramedic practice.

Are you passionate about evidence-based practice? Do you want to collaborate directly with physicians and clinical leaders to guide the next evolution of paramedic care? Here's your chance.

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) is excited to announce recruitment for the Clinical Practice Evidence Panel (CPEP) — a select group of paramedics who will help lead the Comprehensive Medical Directive Review (CMDR).

RPPEO has issued a new Medical Advisory (MA-2025-02) providing clinical guidance on STEMI Hospital Bypass by Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs) with Autonomous IV (AIV) certification. The Medical Advisory comes into effect on July 22, 2025. 

This advisory recognizes that PCPs with AIV certification are equipped to effectively manage hypotension, enabling them to safely apply STEMI bypass criteria under circumstances previously limited to Advanced Care Paramedics. Specifically, it outlines when bypass to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) is appropriate for stable STEMI patients treated by PCP-AIVs.

A new RPPEO Medical Advisory is in effect.

Medical Advisory on Bougie Use Through Suction Catheter 2025-01 provides clinical practice guidance for RPPEO-certified paramedics.

The Ministry of Health has released ALS PCS version 5.4, which will come into force on Monday, June 2, 2025. This update includes meaningful changes to both core and auxiliary medical directives that impact clinical practice across the region.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sara-Pier Piscopo has joined the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario as a new Associate Medical Director.

Dr. Piscopo is a pediatric emergency physician with a strong background in prehospital and transport medicine. She completed her fellowship in Prehospital and Transport Medicine (PTM) at the University of Ottawa, where she developed a keen understanding of EMS systems and care delivery beyond the hospital setting.

The Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) has released a Clinical Bulletin on Measles Management, developed in response to the 2025 Ontario measles outbreak.

This Clinical Bulletin reflects collaboration with paramedic services across Eastern Ontario, with particular thanks to the Ottawa Paramedic Service for providing valuable feedback on infection control and transport practices.

Measles is a highly infectious disease transmitted in the air. 

The bulletin focuses on core best practices in suspected measles, including: