Council Meeting Highlights - October 16, 2009
The Council Executive has had opportunity this month to meet with officials from the Ministry of Health, the SARM Board of Directors, the SEMSA Board of Directors and the full Council met with the Labour Relations Committee of the Saskatchewan Fire Chiefs Association. All these meetings were debriefed at the October 16, 2009, regular Council meeting which was attended by Brent Stewart, Derek Dagenais, Bob Fenner, Jon Antal, Kim Johnston, Karen Todd, Karen Wallace and Jamie Struthers (for the morning only). Council members Brent Stewart, Derek Dagenais, Bob Fenner, Kim Johnston, Karen Wallace and Jamie Struthers were also present the evening of October 15, 2009, for an orientation to the legislative framework within which we work presented by legal counsel, Roger Lepage of Balfour Moss.
Entry to Practice Examinations at PCP and ACP Levels
Council received a report on the development of entry to practice examinations at the PCP and ACP levels. Council determined that all new applicants for EMT and EMT-P licenses will be required to write the entry to practice examination with the exception of those SIAST graduates whose program of study commenced prior to August 1, 2009. SIAST students who began their training since August 1, 2009, will have to write the licensing exam.
Emergency Medical Responder Entry to Practice
In 2009 recognizing a transition was needed to enable recruitment of EMRs to reflect the new entry to practice training requirements spelled out in the Regulatory Bylaws, Council implemented a process whereby individuals who had completed First Responder training were eligible for a Restricted License for six months (renewable once for a maximum of twelve months) to complete the EMR training. Restricted License fees were waived for this purpose so that there was no additional cost to the applicant. Council has decided to extend this policy for another year.
Fee Waivers
Council considered the plight of new applicants for licensure in the late fall of the year given the increase in the licensing fee. Effective October 19, 2009, for new graduates applying for their initial license with the College, Council determined that the 2010 licensing fee will be reduced by the value of the 2009 license fee paid, in effect enabling graduates late in the year to register for 2009 and 2010 by paying the equivalent of the 2010 license fee and the initial processing fee.
Late fees will not be charged to members who have submitted all their renewal documentation but are unable to provide mandatory certificates because the agency has not yet issued them. If these individuals cannot provide mandatory certification by December 31st, they will be issued a Restricted License (with no additional fee) until they do provide the certification. To be eligible for the fee waiver these individuals must provide some evidence that they attended the certification course (eg. a course roster or letter from the instructor).
Committee Appointments
Council reviewed all applications for participation on Committees of the College and made appointments to fill all vacancies. In the coming weeks all applicants will be contacted with the results of the Council decisions. Once that process is completed, the new committee members will be announced. Council noted that the work of the College is undertaken by these committees. Committee members must therefore be committed to attending meetings and fulfilling their obligations which can sometimes require considerable time and effort. The College does have a policy for removal of council or committee members should they fail to meet these obligations.
Changes to Policies respecting Criminal Records
Council considered and approved recommendations from the Registration Committee to revise the policies respecting applicants with Criminal Records. Last year the focus was assessing criminal records of existing members applying for license renewal. That process will not be repeated (i.e. existing members will not have to provide another criminal record check in 2009). This year and in the future the focus will be on assessing criminal records of new applicants for licensure.
Council decided that licenses should rarely be issued to initial applicants with recent (5 years) convictions related to drugs, sexual assault, other violence, theft, fraud, weapons, criminal negligence or other serious criminal activity as assessed by the Registration Committee. Council approved the following guidelines:
- Applicants whose criminal record shows conviction for these types of offences may be asked to supply character references or other evidence of rehabilitation;
- If it is considering refusal to issue a license, the Registration Committee should give a hearing (either written submission or in person) to the applicant to present his/her case;
- Decisions of the Registration Committee may be appealed to Council;
- The Registration Committee may issue licenses to those who present convincing evidence of rehabilitation.
Council confirmed a number of practices developed during the past year to give assistance and fair process to applicants for licensure who have a positive criminal record. In addition, for those members who received a license to practice this past year on the condition that they supply a Certified Criminal Record (verified by fingerprints and authorized by the RCMP in Ottawa), Council noted that most had complied but some have not provided any evidence of attempting to meet this condition on their license. In these cases, Council will refer the matter to the Professional Conduct Committee as an act of professional misconduct that needs to be investigated.
Finally, Council approved a policy to protect confidentiality of criminal record information. Documentation of the convictions(s) of applicants will be kept in a sealed envelope in the member’s file marked “For the Registrar’s Eyes Only”. The documentation could be made available to the Professional Conduct Committee on request but will not be used for any other purpose once the applicant has been issued a license.
SCoP Pandemic Planning
The college is working cooperatively with Saskatchewan Health to enable licensed members to support such measures as immunization clinics. Council considered and approved recommendations from the Registration Committee to adopt a contingency plan for an outbreak of pandemic flu which could affect either the operations of the college itself or the operations of EMS agencies. In the event of a declared emergency or pandemic (not a labour contract dispute), the college will prioritize new EMS applications over all other applicants and a plan is in place to prioritize or adjust registration procedures should college staff fall ill.
The Council approved a policy for emergency initial registration of temporary emergency medical practitioners which uses a Restricted License allowing up to 3 months practice (but valid only as long as a declared emergency/pandemic is underway), and waives all fees. The policy allows restricted licensing of temporary EMRs on the basis of completion of an approved First Responder training program and CPR- HCP training; or partial completion of a PCP training program which requires first aid and CPR-HCP for entry and has covered spinal immobilization and safe lifting during the training. It also allows restricted licensing of temporary EMTs on the basis of current enrolment in an EMT-A or EMT-P training program as verified by the training institution (applies to those who may have let their license lapse while enrolled).
Report from the Professional Conduct Committee
Pursuant to Section 27(5) of the Paramedics Act, Council received a report from the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) regarding five complaints that had either been dismissed (2) or resolved through Consensual Complaint Resolution Agreements or Letters of Guidance. The reports contain no personal identifying information but do set out the nature of the complaint, the investigation findings and how the complaint was resolved. These reports are also provided to the Discipline Committee, the complainant and the member(s) whose actions were investigated.
The PCC also proposed some policy revisions regarding complaint receipt procedures and changes to its Terms of Reference to require that individuals take Administrative Tribunal Training prior to being appointed to the committee. Council accepted these recommendations.
Developing a New Strategic Plan
Council endorsed a Working Document for Consultation Purposes which summarizes the Strategic Goals the Council is considering for a new strategic plan for the coming three to five years. This document will be the subject of consultation with all our members and key stakeholders over the coming months with a view to finalizing the plan in time for the Annual General Meeting in April, 2010.
Parameters for the 2010 Budget
Council considered what factors should be reflected in the preparation of the 2010 Budget for the College. The licensing fees for 2010 were established at the AGM in May, 2009 at $425; fees for subsequent years will be increased to reflect the annual inflation index for the year. Council, therefore, has a clear idea of the likely revenues in each of those years and will plan to begin to pay down the debt and maintain operations within that revenue.