How is advanced airway care evolving, and what does that mean for paramedic practice? Save the date for the RPPEO Nasotracheal Intubation Town Hall to be held online on December 10 at 1pm. Registration details will follow.

Advanced airway care calls for clinical judgment, technical skill and a strong foundation in the basics. As evidence and practice evolve, the Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario (RPPEO) is taking a closer look at how we support safe, effective airway management, including procedures that paramedics may have few opportunities to use.

A conversation worth having

Nasotracheal intubation is part of that conversation, alongside broader questions about advanced airway care: how we choose an approach, maintain skills in infrequently used procedures and bring the fundamentals into every airway encounter. We are also looking closely at how advanced airways are managed and monitored, including the role of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) monitoring in ongoing assessment. These questions deserve time and thoughtful discussion.

This is about the evolution of practice, not a judgment on the care paramedics have provided. The Town Hall will offer space to reflect on clinical experience, explore the thinking behind changes in airway practice and ask what those changes mean for patient care.

Keeping the focus on patient care

Advanced airway assessment and management remain essential parts of paramedic care. This conversation will keep the focus on BLS fundamentals, clinical judgment and the authorized airway-management approaches that fit the situation not only when establishing an airway, but throughout ongoing care and monitoring. Practical resources will help connect the discussion to day-to-day care.

Join the RPPEO Town Hall

RPPEO will host a Town Hall on December 10, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Dr. Michael Austin and the RPPEO team will share the thinking behind this work, explore nasotracheal intubation and its use in our region, review practical airway management and answer questions. Bring your experiences and questions: this is an opportunity to learn together and discuss what evolving practice means in the field.