Recent News and Updates
National Paramedic Services Week - Special Thank you
It is Paramedic Services Week and the RPPEO would like to acknowledge and honor the hard work and dedication of the paramedics of Eastern Ontario. Over the past year more has been asked of paramedics than ever before, and you have answered the call. Every day you respond to calls for help from the ill and injured. Each call for service is made b...
OMC Evolution
We're thrilled to share an exciting update that will improve patient care: the expansion of Online Medical Consultation (OMC) services to two more base hospitals - the Centre for Paramedic Education and Research (CPER) in Hamilton, and Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury.
Spring 2024 CME Launches March 13, 2024, on MedicLEARN
RPPEO Spring 2024 CME is launching online on Wednesday, March 13. The RPPEO's Spring continuing medical education module is aimed at ACPs. PCPs from paramedic services supporting participation are also welcome to participate in the Spring session.
RPPEO today emailed a Spring 2024 CME Launch Letter containing details of the education to each ce...
Medical Advisory on Cardiac Arrest On-scene Resuscitation Time
A new RPPEO Medical Advisory is in effect.
Medical Advisory on Cardiac Arrest On-scene Resuscitation Time (2024-01) provides clinical practice guidance for RPPEO-certified paramedics.
You may find this Medical Advisory and other written RPPEO guidance in the Policies and Practices section of RPPEO.ca.
MedicNEWS for February 2024
In this issue of MedicNEWS:
Spring 2024 CME Announced! in Continuing Education
Paramedics on the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis in BHP Corner
Corresponding about Quality & Safety
A New Clinical Bulletin to Help Your Practice
RPPEO is Hiring in Announcements
MedicNEWS is the RPPEO bi-monthly news magazine for paramedics in Eastern...
ALS PCS v5.3 in Force February 9, 2024
The Ministry of Health has issued a revised version of the Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards (ALS PCS). Version 5.3 came into force on February 9, 2024.
ALS PCS v5.3 added intranasal glucagon to the Hypoglycemia Medical Directives for trained and authorized paramedics.
OBHG Seeks Paramedics for Provincial Committees
The Ontario Base Hospital Group (OBHG) is seeking applications for new representation from front line paramedics for all provincial committees:
Ontario Base Hospital Group Medical Advisory Committee (OBHG MAC) -2
Data Quality Management Subcommittee (DQM) -1
Education Subcommittee (ESC) -1
Term: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2027
For ...
Clinical Bulletin on OUD, Buprenorphine/naloxone, and Naloxone
A new RPPEO Clinical Bulletin on Opioid Use Disorder, Buprenorphine/naloxone, and Naloxone is now available.
This Clinical Bulletin provides paramedic practice guidance from the Regional Medical Director on the appropriate administration of naloxone in the context of opioid toxicity, and differentiates naloxone from the new combined medication ...
RPPEO Forms
Latest MedicASK Questions
Morphine Allergy
Question: Can a patient who has an allergy to morphine receive fentanyl? Also, I have seen several patients allergic to morphine, have hydromorphone or Dilaudid on prescription, why is this?
Is continuous normal ECG data required to be documentation on the ACR
Question: With rhythm analysis, if the initial one added to the ACR is normal, and throughout the call/transport, if the rhythm remains normal, do you have to continue to upload the ECG to the call to show i...
PEEP Valves
Question: Does RPPEO support adding a PEEP device to airway management tools?
Bradycardia Definition
Question: In medical literature (AHA , National Institutes of health), bradycardia is most often defined as a rate < 60. In our ALS PCS under "Age and Vital Signs" it is defined as a rate of <50. Whic...
Needle Thoracostomy: Tape vs Commercial Seal
Question: Version 5.1 of the ALS-PCS Companion Document states, "[a] chest seal blocks your view of the needle, and there is limited evidence to demonstrate a benefit" (p 41), and "secure the catheter in pla...
