Abstract
This chapter summarizes the innovation and provides a summary of the Paramedic Program Management activities under the Defence Research and Development Canada’s Center for Security Science (DRDC CSS). The content is organized around collaborative activities with federal government departments, international partners, and DRDC CSS supported projects. All activities align with specific Science and Technology (S&T) requirements of DRDC CSS as well as the Paramedic Community of Practice S&T research priorities. This document is meant to be illustrative and provides a general overview of the diverse activities of the Paramedic Portfolio Manager since its inception. The document serves as a historical record of activities and it is anticipated that it will be utilized as supporting documentation for future operational, logistical, human resource, and community resilience S&T endeavours that will address future Paramedic Community of Practice identified gaps and inform policy.
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Notes
- 1.
Foreword by Mark Williamson, Director General, DRDC CSS in Canadian Safety and Security Program: Paramedic Review Report 2012–2017, by Michel Ruest and Elena Nicolinco, unpublished.
- 2.
DRDC-RDDC-2014-C192, June 2014. Canadian Paramedic Services Standards Framework: A Strategic Planning Report.
- 3.
CSSP-2013-CD-1092 Paramedics Research Program Leveraging Guide, March 2013.
- 4.
The current CSSP focus areas are: (1) operator capability; (2) seamless borders; (3) critical infrastructure; and (4) community resilience.
- 5.
CSSP Communities of Practice (CoP) are groups of subject matter experts (SME) who share a common interest in each area of expertise and work together to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration. An essential element of CSSP, CoPs provide access to a rich pool of knowledge and experience to support new or enhanced S&T knowledge and capabilities and provide advice in the development of evidence-based policy, decision-making, and operational and strategic planning. Found at https://science.gc.ca/eic/site/063.nsf/eng/h_D31527CE.html#X-2016091209255011.
- 6.
The National EMS Research Agenda identified recommendations for paramedic research. See: national-research-agenda-non-ineractive.pdf (paramedicchiefs.ca).
- 7.
As per the DRDC Centre for Security Science: Organizational Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities (2013) and found in the reference document: Develo** the CSSP Planning Process, March 2017, DRDC-RDDC-2017-D018, authored by Brian W. Greene, DRDC—Centre for Security Science.
- 8.
The Paramedic CoP Mission and Mandate statements obtained from the Terms of Reference vented through the CoP in 2017.
- 9.
The 2018–2020 strategic plan can be found:https://paramedic.ca/documents/Strategic-plan/PAC2018-2020StrategicPlan2018November17boardapproved.pdf. The PAC’s 2016–2018 high level strategic goals are: (1) providing member services; (2) improving professional practice; and (3) promoting the paramedic profession. See: http://pac.in1touch.org/document/2346/2016%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf.
- 10.
The PAC’s 2018–2020 mission statement is to advance the paramedic profession throughout Canada. The PAC will also promote collegiality and advocate for the professional interests of paramedics. PAC is the national voice of paramedicine which supports paramedics in providing high quality health care to patients. PAC represents over 20,000 paramedics across Canada. See: https://pac.in1touch.org/document/4862/PAC2018-2020StrategicPlan2018November17boardapproved.pdf.
- 11.
The National EMS Research Agenda identified recommendations for paramedic research. See: national-research-agenda-non-ineractive.pdf (paramedicchiefs.ca).
- 12.
The final report of CSSP-2012-CD-1044 EMS National Standards Strategy, the Canadian Paramedic Services Standards: A Strategic Planning Report was the result of bring together experts from the Canadian Paramedic Community to develop a roadmap and strategic direction for the coordination and development of the standard. The goal of the document is to provide a comprehensive report to advance the standards environment to meet the current and future needs of the Canadian Paramedic Community. The standard identified 8 main elements that formed the basis for future research and analysis.
- 13.
CPRC Project #09-1076.
- 14.
The Paramedic Community of Practice has created a Business Plan document that is updated on a regular basis. The document captures past priority setting exercises and outlines current gaps and needs of the paramedic community.
- 15.
The current CSSP focus areas are: (1) operator capability; (2) seamless borders; (3) critical infrastructure; and (4) community resilience.
- 16.
The PCC have engaged Canadian paramedic researchers to revisit and update the White Paper. Calls for nominations to individuals, literature review and environmental scan that informed the content of the white paper were conducted in 2019 (see https://www.paramedicchiefs.ca/paramedic-chiefs-of-canada-pcc-white-paper-seeking-nominations/). The result is the “Paramedic Chiefs of Canada White Paper: Discussion on 10 guiding principles for Paramedicine in Canada”. A presentation overview can be found at https://firstwatch.net/paramedic-chiefs-of-canada-white-paper-update-to-pcc-members/
- 17.
- 18.
More detail of each of the research priorities identified below can be found in the Paramedic Community of Practice—Business Plan—2017.
- 19.
CSSP-2021-TI-2507 Canadian Study of Violence against Paramedics Charter is currently being developed.
- 20.
The CSA Z1650:21 Paramedic response to the opioid crisis: Education and training across the treatment and care continuum in out-of-hospital and community settings is available on the CSA Store at https://www.csagroup.org/store/product/CSA%20Z1650%3A21/?utm_medium=flyer&utm_source=stakeholder&utm_campaign=Z1650-SD-PDF-Z1650-01182021.
- 21.
The two-day conference was convened by the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, in collaboration with the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs.
- 22.
Two conference documents were produced by the Government of Canada including “National Conference on PTSD: Working together to inform Canada’s federal framework on PTSD—What We Heard Report” which highlight how the conference provided an opportunity to share knowledge, experiences, and perspectives to help ensure that the federal framework on PTSD will support the needs of those who are most affected. Participants engaged in discussions on sharing best practices, increasing awareness, improving data to address knowledge gaps, and engaging in research to better support those with PTSD. An overview of the conference can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/topics/mental-health-wellness/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/federal-framework.html In addition, the “Federal Framework on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Recognition, collaboration and support” found at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/federal-framework-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html.
- 23.
The ISC Program received 39 responses to the Advanced Decision Support for Responder Command and Control. DRDC CSS support 5 proposals through the first phase of the ISC Program Hybrid innovation procurement process. The Logistics and Resource Management of Emergency Response Assets received 25 responses with DRDC CSS supporting 6 proposals.
- 24.
The Project Integrator Role has three main responsibilities including: (a) To be the Science and Technology (S&T) interface for the contractors to help increase their understanding of Public Safety and Security domain; (b) to provide a scientific assessment on each contractual submission; and (c) to provide insight on the S&T advances achieved and how they might be advanced. Logistical responsibilities include (a) integrators being familiar with the specific challenge and the awarded projects; (b) review the contract forwarded by DRDC procurement; (c) after the contract is in place contact the contractor with an introduction e-mail and arrange a kick-off meeting as required; (d) for any meetings with the contractor include the DRDC Procurement authority; and (e) integrators must not redirect, influence the direction, or modify the scope of an innovators project. At the project conclusion, prepare a Science Brief summarizing the advances during the project including recommendations of the assessment of the need for continued funding in Phase 2 (Prototype Development) and where the S&T solution might feed into DRDC and specifically the Paramedic CoP innovations programs/priorities.
- 25.
Sanitization: Three submissions were received, and the Paramedic Portfolio Office created a fourth submission to inform the challenge statement. The submissions represent specific focus on N-95 decontamination and re-use to general prevision of decontamination as well as both land and aeromedical perspectives. Although there was specific reference to AGMP in the submissions, I have requested that this criterion be considered when creating the challenge statement. PPE decontamination: To inform how the decontamination of PPEs & field gear for reuse by front line responders, three separate submissions were received by the paramedic portfolio office. The submissions included both land ambulance and aeromedical environments. In addition, the paramedic portfolio office created a fourth submission, specifically focusing on N-95 decontamination and re-use. Virtual Monitoring: Four separate submissions were received from our Community of Practice representing programs from the East Coast (NB), Ontario, the West Coast (BC) and finally a PAC proposal, which provided a national perspective. Considering the clearly defined gaps and well-articulated opportunities captured in the four submissions, the Paramedic Portfolio Office did not complete a submission. BCEHS provided a resource document outlining the current efforts in virtual home visits considering the COVID-19 situation (Background information also available from Telus Media release at https://www.canhealth.com/2020/04/29/telus-expands-home-health-monitoring-solution-in-bc/).
- 26.
To prepare for future federal government Mental Health research opportunities, I have reached out to our SME experts (Nick Carleton, Renee MacPhee, Elizabeth, and Amid Yazdani) to create recommendations on behalf of our Community of Practice. The following research questions were identified for review and consideration:
-
Investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental demands of Canadian FR and strategies to mitigate adverse effects and outcomes.
-
Improve resiliency and capacity of FR organizations to effectively respond to public health crisis.
-
Develop a unified approach for emergency response systems to effectively respond to pandemic or public health crises.
-
- 27.
The first point was captured in the document: Develo** the CSSP Planning Process, March 2017, DRDC-RDDC-2017-D018, authored by Brian W. Greene, DRDC—Centre for Security Science.
- 28.
These two points were captured in the document: Develo** the CSSP Planning Process, March 2017, DRDC-RDDC-2017-D018, authored by Brian W. Greene, DRDC—Centre for Security Science.
- 29.
The Economic Value of Community Paramedicine Programs Contract Program DRDC-RDDC-2017-C086.
- 30.
The first three points were captured in the document: Develo** the CSSP Planning Process, March 2017, DRDC-RDDC-2017-D018, authored by Brian W. Greene, DRDC—Centre for Security Science.
- 31.
The first three points were captured in the document: Develo** the CSSP Planning Process, March 2017, DRDC-RDDC-2017-D018, authored by Brian W. Greene, DRDC—Centre for Security Science.
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Canadian Standards Association (2020) Z1650:21 Paramedic response to the opioid crisis: education and training across the treatment and care continuum in out-of-hospital and community settings is available on the CSA Store at https://www.csagroup.org/store/product/CSA%20Z1650%3A21/?utm_medium=flyer&utm_source=stakeholder&utm_campaign=Z1650-SD-PDF-Z1650-01182021
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Socha, D., Ruest, M., Furlong, G. (2023). Paramedic Portfolio Innovation. In: Masys, A.J. (eds) Safety and Security Science and Technology. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21530-8_10
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