Haliburton County Paramedic Service Enhances Frontline Care with Advanced Care Paramedics
Haliburton County, Ontario – Haliburton County Paramedic Service (HCPS) is proud to announce the introduction of Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) into frontline operations, representing an important step in the evolution of healthcare available to residents and visitors across Haliburton County.
Following Council approval, HCPS has now deployed its first frontline ACP. The program is expected to expand over time while, simultaneously, primary care paramedics continue to keep up with rigorous education requirements for a dynamic and expanding scope of practice.
Every ambulance in Haliburton County is staffed by highly trained Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs) who provide exceptional care for the community. The introduction of Advanced Care Paramedics will complement the team and provide advanced interventions for patients experiencing the most complex or time-critical medical emergencies. Some common examples of these include electrical cardioversion, intubation, and the administration of advanced medications to control things like extreme pain or seizures. For residents and visitors, this means an additional layer of advanced clinical care is now available within Haliburton County.
The first paramedic to serve on a frontline ambulance as an Advanced Care Paramedic in Haliburton County is Shawn Foster, a dedicated paramedic with more than ten years of frontline experience. Shawn's achievement reflects both his personal commitment to professional development and HCPS's ongoing investment in providing exceptional emergency care to the community.
"Today's announcement reflects our commitment to continually advancing the care we provide to our community," said Chief Michael Slatter, of Haliburton County Paramedic Service. "Our Primary Care Paramedics already deliver exceptional care and are recognized for the progressive scope they practice under. Introducing Advanced Care Paramedics builds on that strong foundation, ensuring our teams have even more clinical support available when caring for patients with the most complex medical needs. We appreciate the support of both County Council and our residents and visitors as we continue strengthening emergency healthcare for Haliburton County."
The addition of Advanced Care Paramedics represents another milestone in HCPS's ongoing commitment to delivering evidence-informed, patient-centred health care while continuing to build healthcare equity to meet the evolving needs of the community.
