British Columbia is improving access to health care in rural and remote communities by enhancing the role of qualified paramedics.
BC Emergency Health Services is working closely with the Ministry of Health, regional health authorities, the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE 873), and others to successfully launch British Columbia's first Community Paramedicine Initiative.
In B.C., community paramedicine is intended primarily for rural and remote communities that are sometimes underserved and have aging populations living with chronic and complex diseases. The program objectives are to help stabilize paramedic staffing in these communities, and bridge health service delivery gaps identified in collaboration with local health care teams.
While other provinces have introduced community paramedicine in communities or health facilities, B.C. is the first to do so on a province-wide basis.
As of December 2020, community paramedics may help to augment the health authorities' COVID-19 response in the communities they serve.
At the direction of the health authorities, community paramedics can provide COVID-19 testing to patients five years of age or older at COVID-19 collection centres. They are also able to assist in COVID-19 immunization clinics as a navigator or to provide unintended consequence (anaphylaxis) monitoring.
- As of April 1, 2024 there are 94 full-time Community Paramedic positions in 90 communities.
- 6 positions are designated Rural Advanced Care Community Paramedics. These communities include Salt Spring Island/Ganges, Port McNeill, Cranbrook, Valemount, Prince Rupert and Dawson Creek.
