Ontario Regulation 257/00 Amendments under the Ambulance Act - April 17, 2020

Ministry of Health
Emergency Health Regulatory and
Accountability Branch
5700 Yonge Street, 6th Floor
Toronto ON M2M 4K5


Ministère de la Sante
Directioin de la réglementation et de laresponsabilisation des services desanté d’urgence
5700, rue Yonge, 6e étage
Toronto ON M2M 4K5

April 17, 2020
 

MEMORANDUM TO: Sector Partners

FROM: Steven Haddad, (I) Director, Emergency Health Regulatory and Accountability Branch

RE: Ontario Regulation 257/00 Amendments under the Ambulance Act: Reducing Barriers to Ensure Sufficient Ambulance Service Personnel During Provincial Declarations of Emergency

I am pleased to provide you with an update on amendments made to Regulation 257/00 under the Ambulance Act that are intended to help Ontario ambulance service operators maintain sufficient staffing levels to ensure the proper provision of ambulance services during the COVID-19 outbreak and the emergency declared under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA).

These amendments will:

  • Enhance ambulance service staffing options by enabling primary care paramedic program graduates who have not yet passed the ministry’s advanced emergency medical care (AEMCA) exam, to be employed by ambulance services for an additional 210 consecutive day period beyond the current timeframe. This change allows primary care paramedic program graduates to work for a total of 420 consecutive days after successfully completing a program when hired during a period when an emergency has been declared under the EMCPA.
  • Permit students enrolled in approved primary care paramedic programs, who have not yet graduated, to work for certified ambulance services as emergency medical attendants when paired with a certified paramedic. Ambulance services will also be provided with a six-month transition period to continue with this employment practice beyond the date identified as the end of the emergency to help ensure ambulance service workforce stability.

This regulatory amendment supports preceptorship training/clinical placements of paramedic students to enable them to graduate and provides ambulance services with flexibility to utilize student EMAs (where necessary) to drive ambulance vehicles and perform patient care within their scope of practice when emergencies are declared under the EMCPA.

  • Waive the annual CPR recertification requirement for emergency medical attendants and paramedics employed by ambulance services when an emergency has been declared under the EMCPA, and during the three-month period after the declaration of emergency has ended.

This amendment addresses limitations in CPR training program accessibility during declarations of emergency and provides a transition period to update CPR requirements after the emergency ends.

  • Ensure that advanced care paramedic graduates who have not obtained a pass standing in the ministry advanced care paramedic exam, can work as advanced care paramedics when an emergency has been declared under the EMCPA, and during the six-month period after the emergency has ended.

These changes come into effect immediately and are expected to be listed in Regulation 257/00 in e-Laws within 24 hours https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/000257.

If you have any questions regarding these regulatory amendments, please contact Chris Georgakopoulos at Chris.Georgakopoulos@ontario.ca.

Sincerely,

Steven Haddad