There are three more critical care paramedics working in Prince George who were trained here.
The Prince George critical care paramedic program, which began two years ago, was prompted by increased investment in station 580 at Prince George Airport, which saw the addition of two more airplanes and a helicopter.
“One of the things we are trying to do is support the north and rural and remote Indigenous communities with high-level care,” Chris Naples, CCP Paramedic Practice Educator, said. “Having teams based out of Prince George allows us to respond in a timely manner.”
The training provided in Prince George is part of the new BC Emergency Health Services initiative and as critical care paramedics, they now have the highest level of paramedic training.
Critical care paramedics in B.C. most often work as part of the critical care transport program, which provides specialized emergency patient care and transport for critically ill or injured patients across B.C.
It takes about two years for a practicing advanced care paramedic to become a critical care paramedic. Most of the training was done at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George.
“With the critical care paramedic education program in Prince George, advanced care paramedics don’t need to be away from their families for long periods of time required for the specialized training. The program also opens up new opportunities for BCEHS to recruit and attract higher-level paramedics to the Prince George area,” Brian McNamara, lead instructor for the Prince George CCP training program, said.
“If you want people in the north, you need to take people from the north and you need to train them here.”
Another critical care paramedic education class will be starting in Prince George in January 2024.
