Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) is the specialized and highest level of paramedics. These paramedics serve to set up and sustain the tertiary and intensive care level treatment for the patients while transporting to the right medical facility by air, ground, and sea.
What is Critical Care?
Critical care is about a deeper understanding of the patient and the treatment required. It is not only about the treatment but the rules that go along with critical care. An acute injury impairs one or more vital organs, causing a high probability of life-threat to the patient. Some of the most common threats that meet the critical care criteria are:
- Circulatory failure,
- Renal, hepatic, metabolic and respiratory failure
- Central nervous system failure, and
- Shock
With more excellent diagnostic capability, CCPs can provide the right treatment to critical patients. With advancements in technology, research modalities, and an increase in tertiary level centers, more and more patients are being treated effectively.
Critical Care Paramedic Training
Critical Care Paramedic is selected from the pool of accomplished Advanced Care Paramedics. Tested utilizing the MMI model, CCPs receive an additional two years of intense training before licensed to a Critical Care Paramedic level, and are eligible for 6–9-month residency.
This training includes didactic, clinical, work under the supervision of a physician to ensure that practitioner is competent and can function independently at the highest level and multiple evaluations leading to certification.
In addition to the skills that Advance Care Paramedics perform, the Critical Care Paramedic practice includes:
- Transvenous pacing
- Management of PA Lines
- Art Line Monitoring
- CVP monitoring
- Administration of blood and blood products
- An extensive pharmacology scopes
- UVC Line insertion
- Foley catheter insertion
- NG tube insertion
- CT-head scan interpretation
- Chest X-ray interpretation
- Multiple Difficult Airway manoeuvres
- Mechanical Ventilation, multiple modes
- Chest Tube management
- Blakemore Tube management
- Lab value and blood gas analysis
- Various medications with physician’s orders
Functioning as a mobile Intensive Care Unit (ICU), CCPs respond to the needs of various hospital units that require the transport of highly critical patients. A Critical Care Paramedic can assess, initiate care, resuscitate, and continue the care in virtually any clinical condition.
Why Become a Critical Care Paramedic?
Becoming a paramedic is more than a dream job, it is a calling to help others and motivate a better life and rewarding career.
The first step on your road to becoming a CCP is to get started as a Primary Care Paramedic. After you have gained skills and on-the-job experience; you will have the opportunity to move to advanced care paramedicine. Paving your way to reaching the highest level of paramedicine – Critical Care Paramedic.
Here are three reasons why you should:
- Greater Care to Critical Patients: Recognition and proper care of critically ill patients significantly affect the outcome. CCPs need to be familiar with complex procedures responsible for managing patients for inter-facility transportation. Patients in critical condition are dependent on specialized supportive and diagnostic equipment for initiating or maintaining mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, central/arterial lines, intra-aortic balloon pump or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
- Advance Clinical Knowledge: Emergency services scope is moving quickly and evolving with technological and medical advances. A critical care course will acquaint the participants in-depth with principles and incorporate advanced assessment skills and more sophisticated diagnostic abilities.
- More Career Opportunities: Many provinces recognize the need for critical care level providers and education required for the job. This change is adding to the scope of practice and open doors for varied employment opportunities.
Critical Care Paramedic Salary in Ontario
The national average salary for Critical Care Paramedic is $124,982 in Ontario as reported by Ornge at Glassdoor. However, experienced professionals’ wages depend on which province they are operating in and years of experience in the field.
Paramedic Academy of BizTech College, Mississauga Ontario
Approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, our 60-week Primary Care Paramedic diploma program is dynamic and career-focused. Practical learning under the supervision of active paramedics and industry certified professionals, give students access to knowledge and expertise required on-the-job.
