Irish College of Paramedics Scientific Symposium Sept 15th UCC

Prof. Shane Knox, President, Irish College of Paramedics

Ms. Paige Mason, Primary Care Paramedic, Ottawa Paramedic Service

The case for gender parity has never been stronger. At an organizational level - several studies have demonstrated that companies with more women in leadership positions perform better due to increased skill diversity within management leading to increased recruitment, promotion and retainment of talent. Although research continues to emerge within the academic, business, and tech industries, there is currently no research into the experiences or perceptions of gender climate in paramedicine in Ontario and limited exploration of the topic within Canada. The goal of the Female Leadership in Paramedicine (FLiP) study is to shine the light on actual, potential and perceived barriers to representation of women in leadership roles in the prehospital environment as well as uncover the perceived climate for female leaders in the past and present.

1. Jonathan Daly - Barriers perceived by volunteer EMTs in Participating in Continuous Professional Development in Ireland.
2. Eamonn Byrne - Refusal to travel in the National Ambulance Service: A retrospective examination of calls from 2017.
3. Alberto Pagano - Empathy levels among paramedic students: a longitudinal study.
4. Raymond O'Connor - General Practitioners, Paramedics and the Primary Care Team; the Potential for Mutual Benefit.

Poster presentations

Mr. Eamonn Byrne, Advanced Paramedic, National Ambulance Service

In a 2016 focus group study into the attitudes of National Ambulance Service staff to the medication error reporting process, participants highlighted possible causes of a medication error. Eamonn will compare these opinions to events reported to the National Incident Management System in Ireland.

Mr. Paul Gowens, Lead Consultant Paramedic, Scottish Ambulance Service

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains a significant global healthcare challenge. Approximately 3,000 patients undergo attempted resuscitation in Scotland each year after OHCA. Paul will share the Scottish National Strategy for dealing with Cardiac arrest including novel ideas for service improvement.

Ms. Cheryl Cameron, Manager, EMS Policy, Standards & Reporting at Government of Alberta

Palliative care and paramedicine may seem like unlikely partners at first glance, however paramedics have always responded to patients receiving palliative care as part of their routine work. Prehospital systems have historically concentrated on emergent response, resuscitative interventions and transport, which is in conflict with a palliative approach to care focused on optimizing symptom management and supporting patients to remain at home. Jurisdictions across Canada have improved patient and family experiences and decreased transports to acute care facilities by shifting the frame of how paramedics respond to patients receiving palliative care. In this engaging session, learn about how Alberta, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island have supported this patient population differently, and how this award winning work is set to spread across the nation.

Poster presentations

Ms. Viv Forde, Advanced Paramedic

Sponsored by Galen Pharmaceuticals, Platinum Conference Sponsor

Dr. Chris O’Connor,  Irish College of Paramedics

In this presentation, Chris will examine the level of engagement of Irish pre-hospital emergency care practitioners with reflection and reflective practice.  He will also explore the attitudes of practitioners to reflection and to methodologies designed to support reflective practice such as reflective discussion and video-assisted structured reflection.  Finally he will outline the main barriers to reflection and reflective practice gaining widespread acceptance as key learning strategies among pre-hospital emergency care practitioners and educators in Ireland.

A/Prof. Alan Batt, Vice-President, Irish College of Paramedics

Alan will outline the challenges and opportunities that exist to develop research capacity in pre-hospital care practitioners. Alan will discuss upstream and downstream targeted interventions, and provide examples of success, and failure. He will discuss how to promote a culture of research, and how to provide practitioners with the supports required to lead and conduct research - time, education, funding and mentoring.

Ms. Georgette Eaton, Senior Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University

Georgette will explore the complexity of learning values in paramedic practice, looking at student paramedics within the ambulance setting and exploring their understanding of values and their relation to practice. Georgette will also comment on barriers to education research within the ambulance setting, with a call to change this and ensure that students entering the profession are learning the right material, in the right way.

1. Cheryl Cameron - Defining Mentorship in Prehospital Care: A Qualitative Analysis of the Characteristics of Prehospital Mentors.
2. Chris O'Connor - It’s good to talk! Reflective Discussion Forums to support and develop Reflective Practice among Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Practitioners in Ireland.
3. Alan Batt - Strategies for incorporating patient safety education in paramedic education using the IHI Open School.
4. Trevor Hines Duncliffe - Driving me crazy: the effects of stress on the driving abilities of paramedic students.

Ms. Ann McDermott, Advanced Paramedic, National Ambulance Service

Ann will speak about her experience as part of the CAWT Cross-border Community Paramedicine Programme to date. This will include the educational aspect of the role, the day-to-day operations and her personal journey to this point.

Chief Mike Nolan, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service

Prof. Shane Knox, President, Irish College of Paramedics

All are welcome! Complimentary finger food will be served.