Allied Health Survey
Dear members,
Re: Allied Health Survey
In June 2020, the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) launched the Allied Health Policy Secretariat (the Secretariat) to provide stewardship and focused leadership to more than 70 allied health professions and occupations in British Columbia. The Secretariat has been tasked with creating a three-year strategic plan to set the direction of allied health in BC, including the vision of allied health practice, education, and role optimization to better support patients, and to achieve health system goals.
The definition of allied health varies within Canada depending on province and jurisdiction. The following is considered a current definition of allied health services within BC:
“The Allied Health Workforce is made up of a diverse range of health professionals and occupations, both regulated and unregulated. They provide preventative, diagnostic, rehabilitative, mental health, nutrition and therapeutic services in a variety of settings. Allied health often work in collaboration with physicians, nurses, patients, clients, residents, families and others to optimize team-based care.”
In an effort to inform their three-year strategic plan, the Secretariat has undertaken efforts to meet with focus groups representing the over 70 allied health professions and occupations that meet the inclusion criteria of allied health work.
Paramedicine meets all three of the inclusion criteria:
- Completion of post-secondary education and training that meets profession or occupation specific qualification requirements other than medical and nursing related training
- Provides direct patient care or supports patient/ resident/ client care
- Develops/ contributes to/ informs the treatment plan
The Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC) performs a dual role serving paramedics in British Columbia. In addition to representing the over 4,500 paramedics and dispatchers employed by BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) as CUPE Local 873, APBC is also the professional voice of paramedics in the province as the BC Chapter of the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC). Advocating as the professional voice of paramedics, the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of APBC recently participated in a focus group session with the Secretariat and were very impressed with the level of collaboration and forethought being undertaken in the development of the three-year strategic plan. Our profession stands to benefit from this positive and concerted bureaucratic engagement and our participation in these processes will help to influence the future of paramedicine in British Columbia. For these reasons, we are very excited and supportive of the work of the Secretariat.
Further to the work being done by the Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, as part of the BC Allied Health Provincial Consultation process, has developed an online survey to collect allied health data in key areas. All allied health professionals, which includes all paramedics in BC, are invited to participate in the survey which is open now until July 13th at the following link: https://surveymoh.health.gov.bc.ca/public/survey/allied-health-provincial-consultation?destination=/home
Participation in the survey is highly encouraged as the results will provide valuable insight and inform the three-year strategic plan of the Secretariat and will directly impact the delivery of paramedicine in British Columbia.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the Provincial Executive Committee
Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC
CUPE Local 873
Click HERE to view a PDF version of this message
/sb/MoveUp