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.

The Fall CME session is for both Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) and Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs).

What You'll Learn

This Fall, we begin an educational series on patient history-taking as part of a broader focus on advancing paramedic assessment skills. In Fall 2025 CME, you will be digging into two of the twelve different themes: medication history and past medical history. These are essential components of both advanced patient assessment and our ongoing commitment to medication safety.

Paramedics will gain a deeper understanding of how accurate and comprehensive history-taking contributes to clinical decision-making, patient safety, and effective care in the field.

Main Topics

• Emergency Childbirth: Gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in managing emergency childbirth, including handling complications such as nuchal cord, cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, and more.

• Newborn Resuscitation: Learn and practice life-saving techniques for newborn resuscitation, including CPR, airway management, and positive pressure ventilation.

• Medication Safety: Focus on safe medication administration, correct dosing practices, and minimizing errors to ensure patient safety.

• Advanced Patient Assessment: Develop advanced skills in taking the best possible past medical history, which improves clinical decision-making and patient safety in both complex and critical situations.

Evaluation

This Fall, you will once again complete evaluation components during both online and in-class CME. This evaluation is formative and supportive, designed to reinforce skill retention and offer constructive feedback.

Why?

• Ongoing Competency: RPPEO provides training, feedback, and medical advisories to help paramedics maintain competency across the full scope of clinical practice. We want to create an opportunity for paramedics to refresh their skills, receive feedback, and continue to grow in a structured, supportive environment.
• Professional Accountability: While RPPEO facilitates training, paramedics must take an active role in maintaining proficiency in all areas of practice as a healthcare professional.
• Medical Oversight: Medical Directors delegate controlled medical acts only to paramedics they believe to be competent. This underscores the importance of maintaining proficiency in all areas.

How?

• Pharmacology and Medical Safety Assessment: As part of the Fall 2025 CME, you will complete a Pharmacology/Medical Safety Knowledge Assessment. This assessment is not designed to be pass/fail but to highlight the level of pharmacological understanding that RPPEO, our Medical Director, and our patients expect from paramedics. It is an opportunity for self-reflection, helping you identify areas of strength and areas for further development in pharmacology knowledge.The questions will cover critical topics, including pharmacokinetics, autonomic and CNS pharmacology, cardiovascular and respiratory medications, and much more. Our goal is to build confidence and competence in paramedic decision-making, providing safe, informed, and patient-centered medication practices. By understanding the “poisons” we use - their mechanisms, benefits, and risks - paramedics will be better equipped to provide exceptional care. This tool will reinforce your professional responsibilities in understanding the pharmacology of medications you carry, challenge your clinical thinking, and promote continuous self-directed learning expected of a health professional.  
• Formative Evaluation: The CME evaluation is not punitive but a helpful tool for skill development, reinforcing learning and giving you a clearer sense of areas for improvement no matter what your scope of practice.

Completion and Certification

Participation in both the online and in-class components of Fall 2025 CME is mandatory for both ACPs and PCPs and contributes to your annual Maintenance of Certification requirements.

Online Module Launch: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
In-Class Sessions Begin: Monday, September 15, 2025 – your service will provide your CME schedule

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All participants must complete the online module before attending the in-person practical component to fully prepare for hands-on practice and discussion.

For certification and continuing education requirements, please visit RPPEO.ca for more information. You are encouraged to check your status in MedicNET from time to time so that you may verify your progress toward annual Maintenance of Certification requirements. MedicNET now automatically emails you when you complete a milestone (such as Fall CME) to help remind you of your progress toward maintenance of certification

We look forward to your participation in this engaging CME experience, which is designed to build critical skills and help paramedics continue to provide safe and effective care for your patients.