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This is a rewarding career and in high demand throughout Saskatchewan.

The province has an urgent need for paramedics and Saskatchewan Polytechnic is responding to the shortage by offering a one-year paramedic program, delivered at campuses in Saskatoon and Regina.

“I’m really excited about where our program is going,” says Ian Schindler, a paramedic and instructor at Sask Polytech in Saskatoon.

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“We have a lot of really good minds and a lot of leaders in emergency medical services (EMS) who have shown they value our program.”

Paramedics provide emergency pre-hospital care on scene and in ambulances, as well as care for patients awaiting treatment in hospital emergency rooms.

Sask Polytech’s primary care program includes online and classroom work, but the emphasis is on hands-on training in pre-hospital emergency care. The course ends with clinical placements in hospital and ambulance settings.

Schindler says simulation learning is a key part of the program, helping students prepare for real-world emergencies, which often occur under high-pressure conditions.

Practical experience

Simulation learning combines innovative technology with recreated real-life medical situations. For example, students deal with high-fidelity mannequins that can speak, convey emotions, cough, blink, bleed, or expand their chests to simulate breathing.

The mannequin can record changes in vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate, allowing students to assess their health and respond accordingly.

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Schindler says simulation learning is integrated into every aspect of the student experience. “It’s of the utmost importance and it’s one of the values ​​of the program: we make it as real as possible, whether it’s a simulated trauma scenario, a simulated laboratory environment or an ambulance driving simulation.”

Schindler is pioneering an ambulance driving simulation course that provides a realistic ambulance environment as well as real-world challenges faced by EMS personnel traveling to and from a call.

“As the animator of the simulation, I can control the environment as I see fit,” explains Schindler. “I can add traffic information, weather information, pedestrian information, complex dispatch information – the options are limitless.”

Fearghus Vincent, a paramedicine student at Sask Polytech, says the hands-on simulation experiences were invaluable in preparing him for real-world emergencies in the field.

“The equipment is top-notch and gives us the opportunity to practice at a higher level while learning,” he says. “But I would say the real strength of the program is the instructors. We have the opportunity to learn from some of the best, people at the forefront of our field.

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“We can ask questions, listen to stories. This human element is something special. They are all excited about training the next generation and helping us advance in our careers.

Expand opportunities

Schindler notes that there is a growing range of job opportunities in the paramedic field.

“All sorts of careers are starting to open up,” he says. “Historically it was all ambulances, but we are starting to see emergency services hiring paramedics, especially in rural communities. »

Other opportunities for primary care paramedics include air ambulances, fire protection services, nursing homes and industrial settings.

The Province of Saskatchewan offers scholarships and initiatives to help fund and train paramedics in the province. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the province increased the number of training places at Sask Polytech from 64 to 96 across the two campuses.

Currently, there are 192 primary care training places and 32 advanced care training places, with full enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year.

Advance skills

Primary care paramedics who want to improve their skills, career mobility and earning capacity can complete a two-year advanced care paramedic program at Sask Polytech.

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The program includes more in-depth knowledge and training, enabling paramedics to administer a wider range of medications and perform life-saving interventions.

This is one of the main reasons why Vincent enrolled in the advanced program.

He graduated from Sask Polytech’s primary paramedicine program and worked for several years with Medavie Health Services West before returning to school. He hopes to return to work full-time once he graduates in April 2025.

“Even though your scope is more limited as a primary care paramedic, you can still make a huge difference and have a great career,” says Vincent.

“I really wanted to take that next step for my patients, just to make sure I could treat them to the best of my ability,” he says. “Being able to help people in crisis is one of my driving forces for getting into the field. »

THIS STORY WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, THE COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION OF POSTMEDIA

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