Primary Care Paramedic Certificate

Program Application Package

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Thank you for your interest in the Heartsafe Primary Care Paramedic program! In high demand throughout British Columbia and across the country, Primary Care Paramedics serve as the backbone for both pre-hospital emergency care systems and private industry medical service providers. Our program delivers prepared and confident new practitioners who are ready to safely deliver patient care from day one on the job.

Heartsafe is an EMALB approved training institution which prides itself on a student-centric approach from start to finish. Curriculum design, instructor recruitment, tuition schedules, exam policies, and more are all built with the student experience first and foremost in mind. Approved training institutions across the province are given flexibility in how they deliver their materials, and I believe this is where Heartsafe excels - supportive learning environments, an embracing of best practices in education and an involved, responsive management team are just some of the ways you can expect us to help you succeed.

We look forward to welcoming you into our Primary Care Paramedic training program!

Nicola Harper President Heartsafe EMS

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PROGRAM INFORMATION 3

PROGRAM COMPONENTS 3 PROGRAM ASSESSMENT 4 CERTIFICATION 4

APPLICATION PROCESS 5

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 5 MATURE STUDENT APPLICANT 6

FEES & TUITION 7

PAYMENT SCHEDULE 7 HEARTSAFE EDUCATION GRANT 7 REFUND POLICY 7 TUITION & FEE TABLE – URBAN (VANCOUVER & VICTORIA) LOCATIONS 8 TUITION & FEE TABLE – ALL OTHER LOCATIONS 9

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION 10

PRACTICUM (WORK-PLACEMENT) 10 TWO WEB-BASED PROGRAMS 10 LICENSING FEES 10 WORKSAFE BC COVERAGE 11 UNIFORM 11

PRIMARY CARE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM APPLICATION 12

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PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Heartsafe EMS Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program is an exciting way to enter the expanding field of Paramedicine. Many avenues are open to PCP license holders, including careers in community paramedicine, emergency response, and private industry.

This program is a rigorous and comprehensive course of study. The academic demands will be considerable and motivation to pursue a Paramedic career is important for success. Applicants require unquestioned integrity, be emotionally mature and physically capable of dealing with patients and the day to day demands of being an emergency care provider.

This PCP course was designed and written by Mike Billingham of Creative Paramedical Education, a retired Advanced Care Paramedic and Infant Transport Team Paramedic. It is under constant review by our Curriculum Committee and Medical Director to ensure it continues to offer up to date training for paramedic practice while utilizing current best practices in the field of paramedic education.

The program meets or exceeds the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) requirements of the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC) and has been approved in British Columbia by the Ministry of Health through the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB) and by the Ministry of Advanced Education through the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB).

PROGRAM COMPONENTS • Anatomy & Physiology pre-course from “Master Your Medics” self-paced and delivered

online o Must be completed prior to the in-class start date

• Classroom sessions delivered in person:

o Full Time over 15 weeks, Monday – Friday o Part Time over 36 weeks, Friday – Sunday every 2 weeks

• Clinical shifts in hospital and practicum shifts on-ambulance

o All required NOCPs must be observed twice by a preceptor, meaning some students may require additional shifts depending on call volumes and types of calls encountered

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PROGRAM ASSESSMENT Evaluation is an ongoing process conducted through a variety of both formal and informal methods. This includes in-class simulations, written evaluations, practical exam simulations and practicum evaluations. Assessments are designed to ensure students meet the standard of performance expected in the field. Students are required to demonstrate an acceptable level of skill, knowledge and professionalism through the following requirements in order to have been deemed to have completed the program successfully:

o 100% attendance of the required course hours. o 100% participation in the daily course activities. o 100% submission of all the required assignments, case studies, etc. o Successful completion of the three (3) PCP course written mid-terms with a

minimum pass mark of 75% o Successful completion of the final course practical and written exams requires a

minimum pass mark of 75% on each exam. Failure to meet these standards will result in a student's removal from the program.

CERTIFICATION Graduates will receive Primary Care Paramedic Certification from Heartsafe EMS and are then eligible to apply for licensure in BC through the EMALB (www.health.gov.bc.ca/ema) at the PCP-IV Level. Heartsafe EMS can assist in obtaining licensure in other provinces, particularly Alberta.

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APPLICATION PROCESS The application process is a competitive one, with applications commonly exceeding the number of spaces available. Admission is offered on a continual basis once a course is advertised, with offers made on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis to completed applications that meet our minimum standards and requirements. Once all of the seats for a course are filled, subsequent applications are waitlisted.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The following list of requirements have been approved for entry into the program. We are able to offer conditional acceptance if students can demonstrate a plan to satisfy any missing requirement(s) prior to the commencement of in-class training or can demonstrate an equivalency through our Prior Learning and Recognition program. Please contact the PCP Program Coordinator to discuss this further.

o Minimum 19 years of age by program start date

o Current ‘Emergency Medical Responder’ (EMR) certification - Certification can be from any EMALB approved program. - Applicants without an EMR certification, but who possess a similar level of

training (OFA 3, out of province PCP, etc.) may be considered. Contact the PCP Program Coordinator to discuss further.

o ‘Basic Life Support’ (BLS) CPR certification - Formerly known as ‘Health Care Provider’ level CPR certification.

o British Columbia grade 12 completion, or equivalent

- Applicants must have completed grade 12 in British Columbia or equivalent, or be a Mature Student (see below).

- Documentation must be provided (high school transcript of copy of Dogwood certificate).

o Physically ability to perform the tasks required of a paramedic

- Formal documentation from a medical expert is not required, however applicants must complete a Statement of Fitness to self-certify that they are physically able to perform the tasks required of a paramedic. This requires a healthy level of:

§ Aerobic fitness (eg. climbing stairs with equipment when elevator not accessible)

§ Muscular endurance (eg. performing prolonged CPR on a patient) § Muscular strength (eg. lifting and carrying patients) § Flexibility (eg. treating patients on the floor or in difficult to reach

situations)

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o Criminal Record Check - Our clinical and precepting agreements with BC Ambulance and various Health

Authorities require us to ensure all students have provided a recent Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check.

- Clinical placements are a requirement for completion and any applicants with relevant records which bar clinical placements will not be considered for admission.

o Two Confidential Letters of Reference - Applicants must submit two reference letters that should highlight the

applicant’s attributes necessary to work as a paramedic. § One professional (eg. supervisor, teacher, coach, counsellor) § One personal

- Must use confidential recommendation form supplied by Heartsafe EMS

o Immunizations The following immunizations must be completed for any students completing an on-car practicum:

- Mantoux: (TB test)-a baseline 1-step test or a test in the last 6 months - Hepatitis B: Series of 3 injections at 0 month, 1 month and 6 months and

antibody testing 2-3 months post 3rd injection - MMR (measles, mumps, rubella): Childhood series and a second injection for

measles - Tetanus/Diphtheria: Booster every 10 years

It is also recommended, but not required, that all students have baseline blood tests completed before practicum for:

- Hepatitis B antibody-post vaccine series - Hepatitis C antibody - HIV antibody

These documents will be reviewed for completeness by the PCP Program Coordinator at the time of application and will be held in strict confidence within Heartsafe, however applicants are advised that immunization records may have to be shared with BC Ambulance or health authorities if required by those agencies as part of the student’s practicum placement.

MATURE STUDENT APPLICANT A mature student applicant is an individual who does not have BC Grade 12 or Grade 12 equivalence and is at least 25 years of age. The Grade 12 completion is required for these individuals, however all other admission requirements must be met.

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FEES & TUITION

PAYMENT SCHEDULE Tuition is split into two equal payments with the first due 30 days prior to the in-class start date, and the second due 30 days after the in class start date. Other fees & deposits are payable when service is provided (eg. Application Fee is due when applying).

A number of items are not included in the base tuition amount to allow students flexibility to only pay for what they need. This includes, textbooks, uniforms and some optional equipment (ex. stethoscope). Heartsafe does not sell most of these items but will provide a list of vendors.

HEARTSAFE EDUCATION GRANT All students who complete at least the first calendar month of training will be provided with a $1,000 grant from Heartsafe to assist with their education. This amount will be used to reduce their final tuition payment by $1,000. This grant will not be provided to students who withdraw prior to the final tuition payment due date.

REFUND POLICY Heartsafe is a Registered Training Institution with the Private Institutions Training Branch (PTIB) which has specific policies on student refunds. A summary of the most common circumstances is below, but the complete policy can be reviewed on our website.

Application Fee Payment Non-refundable Acceptance Confirmation & Tuition Deposit Payment Prior to starting online Anatomy & Physiology course 100% refund After starting online Anatomy & Physiology course 50% refund Tuition Payment 1 *This tuition payment is due 30 days prior to course start

Student withdraws 30 days or more prior to class start 100% refund of

Tuition 1 payment amount

Student withdraws within 30 days after the class start 80% refund of

Tuition 2 payment amount Tuition Payment 2 *This tuition payment is due 30 days after course start

Student withdraws at any time prior to this payment due date

100% refund of any Tuition 2 pre-payment

Student withdraws after payment due date, but prior to 30% course completion

50% refund of Tuition 1 & Tuition 2 payments

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TUITION & FEE TABLE – URBAN (VANCOUVER & VICTORIA) LOCATIONS HEARTSAFE PROGRAM FEES Application Fee $ 85.00

Non-refundable, due with application Acceptance Confirmation & Tuition Deposit $ 500.00

Due at time of accepting an offer Tuition $ 7,100.00

$3550 due 30 days prior to class, $3550 due 30 days after start of class

Competency Tracker & N95 Fit Test Fee $ 600.00

Due prior to starting hospital/ambulance practicums, mid-way through course

Total Heartsafe Tuition & Fees $ 7,285.00*

* Amount above includes $1,000 credit for Heartsafe Education Grant

NON-HEARTSAFE FEES Textbook $ 600.00

Nancy Caroline's "Emergency Care in the Streets" e-Book

(7th Canadian Edition) $ 800.00 e-Book & Hardcopy

Students must have either an e-Book or a hardcopy for in-class use, but are welcome to buy from Heartsafe or find/borrow copies elsewhere

Uniform Purchase (Shirts, Pants, Boots) $ 600.00

Estimated

Uniforms are ordered from external vendors, Heartsafe can recommend

TOTAL NON-HEARTSAFE FEES $ 1,200.00

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TUITION & FEE TABLE – ALL OTHER LOCATIONS HEARTSAFE PROGRAM FEES Application Fee $ 85.00

Non-refundable, due with application Acceptance Confirmation & Tuition Deposit $ 500.00

Due at time of accepting an offer Tuition $ 8000.00

$4000 due 30 days prior to class, $4000 due 30 days after start of class

Competency Tracker & N95 Fit Test Fee $ 600.00

Due prior to starting hospital/ambulance practicums, mid-way through course

Total Heartsafe Tuition & Fees $ 8185.00*

* Amount above includes $1,000 credit for Heartsafe Education Grant

NON-HEARTSAFE FEES Textbook $ 600.00

Nancy Caroline's "Emergency Care in the Streets" e-Book

(7th Canadian Edition) $ 800.00 e-Book &Hardcopy

Students must have either an e-Book or a hardcopy for in-class use, but are welcome to buy from Heartsafe or find/borrow copies elsewhere

Uniform Purchase (Shirts, Pants, Boots) $ 600.00

Estimated

Uniforms are ordered from external vendors, Heartsafe can recommend

TOTAL NON-HEARTSAFE FEES $ 1,200.00

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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PRACTICUM (WORK-PLACEMENT) The program also requires a minimum of sixteen shifts (approximately 192 hours) of on-ambulance work experience (precepting) plus up to four clinical / in-hospital shifts, all of which must be completed within 180 days following completion of the classroom training. Practicum shifts will be scheduled in the same training region as the classroom portion of the program wherever possible. However, students may be expected to travel to other regions where shifts are available.

Note: Precepting and Clinical shifts are in addition to the classroom portion of the program.

Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses associated with attendance at the placement sessions, which may take place throughout the training region. Ambulance stations and hospitals may be located on routes that are not accessible by public transportation. Students are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements to ensure their ability to attend placement sessions at the assigned sites.

Precepting shifts are scheduled at the sole discretion of BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and are subject to availability of trained preceptors and BCEHS scheduling requirements for any given shift / day.

TWO WEB-BASED PROGRAMS Students will be required to use CompTracker, a web-based competency-tracking program and Classmarker, a quiz and exam program. These systems enable students, instructors, and preceptors to communicate and track student progress in real-time and helps to ensure requirements are met and any issues are quickly identified. Students are required to have access to a computer, with internet access for the duration of the program to make use of these two applications.

LICENSING FEES Each province has its own licensing regulations and fees and students are encouraged to review requirements for the province in which they wish to practice. In British Columbia, upon completion of the program you must also successfully complete a formal evaluation conducted by the Emergency Medical Assistant Licensing Board (EMALB). Visit their website at www.health.gov.bc.ca/ema for full details and fees. The Licensing exam at the PCP level in BC comprises a written Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators (COPR) exam and Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) skill stations. Registration for final licensing exams must be done by students themselves through the EMALB. Students must successfully complete the Heartsafe PCP course before registering for the EMA Licensing final exams. Heartsafe will forward a copy of the student’s PCP certificate

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directly to EMA Licensing upon request from the student. Fees payable to EMA Licensing for the purpose of obtaining a PCP-IV license post-graduation are not included in the fees paid to Heartsafe. While your tuition includes costs associated with obtaining a student license to practice in the field, it does not include your post-program examinations and licensing fees. Those are payable directly by the student to the licensing board(s) they choose to register with and are not included in the fees paid to Heartsafe.

WORKSAFE BC COVERAGE HeartSafe EMS Paramedic Training Ltd. provides WorkSafe BC coverage to students while participating in hospital and ambulance placements. This coverage does not extend to any other components of the program, including classroom learning.

UNIFORM Students are expected to be in uniform on the first day of class and everyday thereafter. Once accepted to the program students will receive further information on specific colour/style requirements and a list of vendors where they can purchase their uniforms. All students will receive four (4) Heartsafe crests for the uniform shirt and one set (2 pieces) of Heartsafe ‘Paramedic Student’ epaulettes. Additional sets of each are available for purchase. Current BCEHS employees may wear their current issue uniform except for the uniform shirt (navy blue) which must have a Heartsafe crest on both sleeves.

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PRIMARY CARE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM APPLICATION

To apply for admission to the Heartsafe PCP program submit this page and all of the following pages, along with any required supporting documentation, to the PCP Program Coordinator via: E-Mail info@primarycareparamedic.com Fax 1- 866-873-7549 Mail/In Person #5 – 3948 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC, V8X 1J6

Heartsafe respects your privacy. Personal information that you provide is collected pursuant to Federal

and Provincial privacy legislation. It is collected for the purpose of administering admissions, registration, education programs, financial assistance and awards, student support services, graduation,

alumni affairs and advancement, and for the purpose of statistical reporting. It may be disclosed to other educational institutions, Federal and Provincial government departments, co-sponsoring organizations, and Accreditation Canada for their accreditation process. Personal information is

reported to Statistics Canada under the legal authority of the Statistics Act.

For further information, contact info@primarycareparamedic.com.

Current Date

*Date of Birth (dd/mmm/yyyy) *Gender: ☐ Male ☐ Female ☐ Other

*Last Name *First Name *Middle Name(s)

*Mailing Address

*City *Province *Country *Postal Code

Evening or Home Phone ( )

Day Phone ( )

Cell Phone ( )

Email

*Optional – Do you identify yourself as an aboriginal person? ☐ Yes ☐ No If YES, are you ☐ First Nations ☐ Metis ☐ Inuit *Please indicate if you are ☐ Status ☐ Non-Status

*Citizenship Status ☐ Canadian Citizen ☐ Permanent Resident ☐ Other If Permanent Resident or other, please indicate your country of citizenship

Which course location are you applying for? Start Date you are applying for: ☐ Full-Time ☐ Part Time Month and year

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Application Checklist

Photocopy of Government issued ID with picture (Driver’s License or Passport preferred) ☐

Current Resume ☐

Evidence of High School Graduation ☐

EMR Certificate (photocopy) ☐

Criminal Record Check & Vulnerable Sector Check (not more than 6 months old) ☐

Immunization records (photocopy) ☐

Current CPR ‘BLS’ or ‘HCP’ Certificate (photocopy) ☐

Two Letters of Recommendation (obtain template from website) ☐

Completed Statement of Fitness ☐

Applicants missing any of the above should contact the PCP Program Coordinator through email (info@primarycareparamedic.com), as conditional acceptance may be offered while missing documents/requirements are being pursued.

Heartsafe EMS may also, at its sole discretion, require an in-person interview for applicants prior to offering acceptance into a course.

I declare that all statements made in this application are true and correct and I understand that any misrepresentation of material facts herein may cause forfeiture of my rights to

successfully complete the Primary Care Paramedic Program.

X Signature of Applicant Date

Failure to complete the application in full, and submit all documents required may result in delays in the processing of your application.

Please note we are unable to return any documents.

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Statement of Fitness

This statement is meant to help applicants identify health issues that could prevent them from performing the tasks necessary of a paramedic. Answering ‘Yes’ to any of the items below will not prevent or delay Heartsafe from offering admission, however a condition may be added to any acceptance letter that further documentation from a general physician or specialist is provided to confirm the applicant is medically fit for duty as a paramedic.

Surname of candidate Given name(s) in full Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Mailing address City Province Postal code

Disease conditions — is there medical evidence and/or history of:

Insulin-dependent diabetes Yes ☐ No ☐ Respiratory disease Yes ☐ No ☐

Seizure disorder Yes ☐ No ☐ Communicable disease Yes ☐ No ☐

Heart disease Yes ☐ No ☐ Multiple sclerosis Yes ☐ No ☐

Have you experienced any problems in the previous 12 months, related to the overuse and/or addiction to alcohol, recreational or prescription drugs, and/or over-the-counter medications?

Yes ☐ No ☐

Do you have any visual impairment (uncorrected) that would prevent you from assessing a patient’s medical condition?

Yes ☐ No ☐

Have you experienced any psychological or emotional episodes, which could preclude you from performing the duties of a Paramedic?

Yes ☐ No ☐

Do you have any hearing impairment (uncorrected) that would prevent you from assessing a patient’s medical condition, and/or verbally communicating with a patient?

Yes ☐ No ☐

Do you have any physical condition that would limit you from carrying out the duties of a Paramedic? These may include lifting patients from awkward situations, lifting a stretcher into the Ambulance or setting up / handling Ambulance equipment.

Yes ☐ No ☐

I have answered all the above questions honestly and truthfully. This is a true reflection of any physical and/or mental condition that could have a bearing upon my ability to perform the duties of a Primary Care Paramedic. Signature Date