Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Continuing Medical Education (CME) allows paramedics to maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and to learn about different clinical situations that occur less often in the field. CPER strives to provide essential courses and new learning opportunities for paramedics through CME. In order for CME credits to be allocated, the educational activity must enhance the clinical practice of paramedicine at the certification level of the paramedic and must be preapproved by CPER.

Our continuing goal is to provide all paramedics an opportunity to self-direct their CME needs as much as possible. Our CME program provides a variety of options for paramedics to acquire all CME credits within the CME deadline. PCPs are encouraged to engage in an as many CME activities as possible to support continued growth and improvement of skills

What CME Credits and/or Online Modules do I need to complete to maintain certification?

The requirements for CME credit reflects the provincial mandate of 8 credits annually for PCPs and 24 credits annually for ACPs. As always, 8 of these credits are accumulated when paramedics attend an education session in the form of an Annual Practice Review (APR) CME in each certification year.

In addition to successful completion of the 8 credit APR CME, ACPs are required to obtain a minimum of an additional 16 CME credits during each certification year.

All paramedics must complete all mandatory online modules and CME requirements AND provide proof of completion when required to CPER by November 22, 2019 at 1600hrs. It is the responsibility of each paramedic to ensure they have met the deadline for completion of all requirements in order to maintain certification.

Please keep in mind that the Certification Standard, specifically 10 patient contact, as per the ALS PCS Appendix 6, is a completely seperate stream that may require the Paramedic to complete additional education and training, in order to maintain certification. Paramedics who are required to complete additional educational components relating to this will receive seperate communications from CPER.

WHAT IS THE CME DEADLINE FOR 2019?

The deadline to acquire CME credits is November 22, 2019 at 1600hrs.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT COMPLETE MY CME REQUIREMENTS?

Paramedics who do not complete the CME requirement prescribed by CPER are not eligible for annual certification and are subject to administrative deactivation. If a paramedic is administratively deactivated due to incomplete CME requirements, the paramedic will remain deactivated until such time that all CME requirements are met (ie. completion of required CME credits and successful completion of all online modules). Any paramedic who has been administratively deactivated more than once over the past 5 years (including the current 2019 year) may be required to complete a remediation plan prior to reactivation. This remediation plan will be at the discretion of the Education Department.

CAN I CARRY OVER CME CREDIT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT?

Any CME credit earned in November 2019 only are eligible for carryover into 2020, so long as 2019 CME credit requirements are met by the end of November 22, 2019. You are allowed to carry over a maximum of 4 CME credits.

MAY I TAKE A CME NOT OUTLINED IN THE CME CATALOGUE?

CME credit pre-approval must be obtained from CPER prior to attending the desired program/event. If the CME is taken without prior approval, CME credit may not be granted.

CAN I ATTEND CME OFFERED BY OTHER BASE HOSPITALS?

Opportunities may exist for paramedics to attend CME delivered by another Base Hospital. Submission of a completion/ participation certificate by the respective BH will be required to enable CPER to award CME credits.

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR A CME EVENT DELIVERED/ORGANIZED BY CPER?

Paramedics are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and must register via email at education@cper.ca. CPER reserves the right to cancel the event if minimum class size (of 12 paramedics) is not met 2 weeks prior to the event. If you are unable to attend on the day you have booked, please contact CPER at education@cper.ca as soon as possible.

CAN I BE REIMBURSED BY CPER FOR REGISTRATION FEES FOR EXTERNAL COURSES?

CPER does not reimburse paramedics for any fees related to completion of CME credits. Only your Service Operator (employer) can determine if CME options will be compensated. Paramedics must contact their respective Service Operator (employer) prior to attending any CME option if they are seeking financial compensation.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN PRE-APPROVAL FOR EXTERNAL COURSE/EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY TO USE TOWARDS MY CME REQUIREMENTS?

If the event is not listed below, please submit the CME Credit Request form to education@cper.ca at least 2 weeks prior to the course. The CME Credit Request form can be found by clicking here. Include any supporting documents (course syllabus, completion certificate etc.). Your request will be reviewed and an appropriate amount of CME credit will be given. The number of credits may or may not equal the number of hours actually spent completing the specified CME.

WHERE DO I FIND THE CME CREDIT REQUEST FORM?

CME Credit Request form can be found by clicking here: CME Credit Request Form

I AM A NEWLY CERTIFIED ACP. DO I NEED TO COMPLETE ALL 24 CME CREDITS FOR THE YEAR?

Newly certified ACPs are required to obtain CME credits, pro-rated based on initial certification date. If full ACP certification is obtained mid-way through the year, please confirm with a Paramedic Educator as to the number of CME credits you need in order to meet your Maintenance of Certification requirements.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions or require further details, please contact one of the Paramedic Educators at CPER.

2019/2020 Annual Practice Review

As per past practice, paramedics who attend and successfully complete the APR will be awarded CME credit. Booking paramedics into the APR will be the responsibility of the Service Operators. CME credit allotted 8 CME credits.

Spring CME

This year's Spring CME will focus on Airway management/support, 12 lead ECG Acquisition/Interpretation and Emergency Child Birth.

May 16 - GWPS - 85 King Street, Palmerston (Palmerston Fire Hall)

May 28 - GWPS - 65 Delhi Street, Guelph

May 30 - ROWPS - 465 Pinebush, Cambridge (05 Stn)

June 12 - NEMS - 139 Ontario Street, St. Catherines

June 24 - NEMS - 139 Ontario Street, St. Catherines

August 12 - NEMS - 139 Ontario Street, St. Catherines

Registration for these listed courses will be available to all ACP and PCP paramedics. Registration will be open to paramedics for courses held in their home service until March 30, 2019 @ 1600. After that time, registration will be open to ALL paramedics for any course, held at any location. For example, a ROWPS Paramedic will have exclusive registration ability for all classes being hosted at ROWPS location until the deadline listed aboe. After that time, any Paramedic from an ouside service (ie. HPS, NEMS, etc) will be able to register for the ROWPS-hosted classes, space permitting.

Please note: there may be other CME opportunities (same topic as listed above) which will be hosted by BBPS, DCPS and HPS. If these classes become available, CPER will communicate these opportunities via email as timely as possible.

To register for these courses, please email education@cper.ca

DOC CME

Wednesday June 19, 2019

Location:

Carmen's
1520 Stone Church Rd East, Hamilton

CME credits will be granted to paramedics that attend the annual CPER DOC CME. This day includes case based learning and interactive discussion sessions on Prehospital and Emergency Medicine. Further information regarding speakers, venue, time and relevant information will be made available closer to the date. CME credit allotted: 8 CME credits

Auxiliary Directive CME

CME credits will be granted for Auxiliary Medical Directive CME delivered by CPER (or designate) at the request of a Service Operator.

CME credit allotted:TBD

With the introduction of Reflective Practice and Refllective Learning at CPER, our goal is to encourage paramedics to reflect, analyze and self-direct CME activities based on individual needs. Education delivered in this style speaks to adult learning principles. The self-directed component of our CME program provides paramedics a variety of options that can be taken advantage of in order to acquire all CME credit within the certification year. It is expected that your self-directed CME be of a different focus from year to year to allow for multi-faceted learning and professional development.

Conferences

Paramedics are encouraged to attend conferences related to the practice of paramedicine. The following Conferences are pre-approved by CPER for CME credit:

• OPA Conference Paramedicine http://www.ontarioparamedic.ca/ (Fall 2019)
• 10 Minute Emergency Medicine Conference http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/emergmed/tenem.htm (Fall 2019)
• Tri-City Emergency Medicine Conference http://www.tricityemergency.com/ (March 21, 2019)
• PAC 2019, Winnipeg (september, 2019) http://pacexpo.ca

Any Conference not listed above must be pre-approved for CME credit prior to attending (at least 2 weeks in advance of participation) through submission of the CME Credit Request form to education@cper.ca. On completion of the conference/workshop, submit your certificate of attendance to education@cper.ca. CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per hour; maximum of 12 CME credits per year.

Self-Development Courses

The listed self-development courses will be awarded CME credit.

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Pediatric
• Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS)
• Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP)
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Advanced Basic Trauma Life Support (ABTLS)
• Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PTLS)
• International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)

On completion of the course, submit your certificate or proof of successful completion to education@cper.ca. CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per hour; maximum of 12 CME credits per year.

In-Situ Simulation Events

CPER is fortunate enough to have academic relationships with Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph's Healthcare Centre and McMaster University and there are often potential educational opportunities throughout the year with any one of these associated groups. Examples of activites include McMaster CCFP-EM Residency activities such as Resident Simulation, Tintinalli Academic Rounds or St.Jpseph's Emergency Department in situ Simulation events. Please contact CPER for more information around events like these as scheduling is not regularly posted and dates and times may change throughout the year. CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per hour; maximum of 9 CME credits per year.

Proactive Plan Completion

A proactive plan is a self-directed study, which incorporates knowledge and skills review, along with practice/simulation work. These plans are housed on CPER's LMS (MedicLearn) and cover a wide variety of topics. Self-enrollment into these modules is available directly on MedicLearn. CME credit allotted: 8 CME credits per each plan completed; maximum of 16 CME credits per year. Please note: for those Paramedics who are required to complete 4 proactive plans in 2019 as part of their 10 Patient Contact Maintenance pf Certification requirements may also choose to complete proactive plans as a means for CME credit towards your annal CME credit requirement. The first 4 completed proactive plans will be credited towards a 10 Patient Contact Maintenance of Certification requirements, with any additional completed proactive plans providing 8 CME credit to the Paramedics

Self-Reflection Asignment

With the recent successful, formal integration of the reflection into the Return to Practice (RTP) portolfio at CPER, we would like to expand reflective practive to the CME portfolio as well. Please contact a CPER Paramedic Educator for details.

Teaching

Paramedics teaching paramedic-centered curriculum to paramedic students at an accredited college will be eligible to receive CME credit. CPER Instructors will also be eligible to receive CME credit when acting as a Lead Instructor at a CPER APR/ECB. In order to receive CME credit for teaching, submit a CME Credit Request form to education@cper.ca.
CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per 8 hours of instruction; maximum of 4 CME credits per year.

Preceptorship

Paramedics who take on the role of an ACP or PCP preceptor will be eligible to receive CME credit. Preceptorship must be a minimum of 140 hours with the same student. In order to receive CME credit, submit a CME Credit Request form to education@cper.ca.
CME credit allotted: 4 CME credits per student; maximum of 4 CME credits per year.

CME offered by other Base Hospitals (BH)

Several opportunities exist for paramedics to attend CME delivered by other BHs. Submission of a completion/participation certificate completed by the respective BH will be required in order for CPER to award CME credit. Submit documents to education@cper.ca
CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per course hour.

Journal Article Review

Paramedics may choose to review a current and relevant medical journal for CME credit. Should a paramedic choose this option, they must contact a CPER Educator in order to be provided with an approved list of journal articles for review, as well as with an article review outline. Deadline for journal article review submission is November 9, 2018.
CME credit allotted: 2 CME credits per journal review; maximum of 8 CME credits per year.

CPER Digest Development

Paramedics may choose to write a CPER Digest article. Paramedics will be required to contact an Educator at education@cper.ca prior to development of the article, to discuss learning objectives and article topic. Submitted articles will be reviewed by CPER Education for content and validity prior to CME credit being granted.
CME credit allotted: 2 CME credits per article; maximum of 8 CME credits per year.

AskMED - Questions

Paramedics may choose to submit a question for the AskMED physicians. If a paramedic’s question is answered during the live AskMED event or by the AskMED physicians at a later date, CME credit will be granted to the paramedic. Questions can be submitted by following the directions on the CPER website under the AskMED section. Paramedics who watch the AskMED video and submit a summary on one question will be granted CME credit. The summary must focus on how the question/discussion will impact your current or future paramedic practice. Summaries can be submitted to education@cper.ca for review.
CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per question/summary; maximum of 4 CME credits per year.

College/University Course

Proof of completion of any prehospital related course will be considered for CME credits. The paramedic will be required to provide an official list of learning objectives and/or assignments, in addition to documentation of successful course completion to be considered for credit. Paramedics must complete a CME Credit Request form and submit to education@cper.ca
CME credit allotted: 8 CME credits per course; maximum 8 credits per year

Peer Chart Auditing

Paramedics (i.e. CPER trained auditors) can perform up to 60 call audits per calendar year in order to obtain CME credit. No more than 15 audits for CME points can be performed monthly. These calls will be ALS PCS calls where an advanced life support skill is performed or where symptom relief medications have been administered. IV starts only or calls where no intervention has been initiated are not to be audited for CME credit. Paramedics will record the call date, call number and date that the audit was performed on a form within the BH office.

CME credit allotted: see below; maximum of 4 CME credits per year

• 15 charts 1 point
• 30 charts 2 points
• 45 charts 3 points
• 60 charts 4 points

Research Project

Submission of research projects will be reviewed for CME credit. Research/case studies must be ongoing and relevant to paramedicine. Application for CME point consideration will include specific research techniques to be utilized, goals and expected outcomes of the research experience. Paramedics are required to complete a CME Credit Request form and submit to education@cper.ca.
CME credit allotted: TBD – at the discretion of Medical Council and assigned on a case-by-case basis; maximum of 8 credits per year.

eModule completion

Paramedics can choose to complete eModules, from a CPER determined selection available on MedicLearn, CME credit allotted: varies per eModule; maximum of 8 CME credits per year

Webinar/Podcast Review

Paramedics can choose to review a webinar/podcasts, which may be chosen from a selection available on eMedic. After reviewing the webinar/podcasts, paramedics will need to complete a short quiz to validate learning.

CME credit allotted: 1-2 CME credits per webinar/podcast review (dependent upon length); maximum of 8 CME credits per year

Webinar Development

Paramedics can choose to develop a Webinar, which may be later utilized for CME credit for other paramedics. Webinar topic must be current and relevant to paramedicine. Webinars will be reviewed by CPER Education for content and validity prior to CME credit being granted. Detailed criteria to be obtained from CPER Education prior to beginning the webinar development. Paramedics are required to complete a CME Credit Request form and submit to education@cper.ca.
CME credit allotted: 8 CME credits; maximum of 8 CME credits per year.

Paramedic Competition

Paramedics who are involved in the National Paramedic Competition, either as a participant or as a judge, will be eligible to receive CME credit. Submission of a completed attendance/participation certificate will be required in order for CPER to award CME credit. Submit documents to education@cper.ca. CME credit allotted: 1 CME credit per event hour; maximum of 4 CME credits per year.

Other

Paramedics may seek approval for potential CME opportunity. Please complete the “CME Credit Request form and submit to education@cper.ca. Alternatively, as learning opportunities become available/scheduled throughout the year, offered either by CPER or through an outside agency, paramedics will have the chance to participate. These courses will be communicated as information becomes available. CME credit allotted: TBD/per case basis.