Our goal is to develop career ready professionals, who provide and teach exemplary patient care

“Learn From Paramedic Educators”

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For over 29 years the paramedic educators at Priority Care have been teaching First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder, and Instructor Development courses.  Thousands of our students have gone on to become paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and educators.

The courses offered at Priority Care have been developed by the Canadian Red Cross, are recognized nationally, and are designed to meet the requirements and expectations of various regulatory bodies such as:

  • The government of Canada
  • The government of BC
  • The British Columbia Emergency Medical Assistant’s Licensing Branch
  • WorkSafe BC

 

Why train at Priority Care?

 

The student experience is at the forefront of everything that we do!

Priority Care is an organization that endeavours to fully support our students, from the time of registration through to the successful completion of their course (and through the process of post course government licensure exams where applicable).  We do this by providing value added supports like pre-course communication, course specific study guides, online practice exams, private tutoring, etc.  Our goal, right from the time that you register, is to facilitate your needs as a learner however we can.

 

We are EMS professionals, who are also college trained educators and curriculum designers

Education is at the heart of everything that we do, so it is important to us that we do it well.  To serve this goal, the instructors at Priority Care have completed numerous college / university level programs to strengthen their educational skills well beyond the minimum that is required.  

Priority Care is also one of three Red Cross Instructor Development Centres in the Vancouver area, and we are very proud to have supported instructor development since 2003.  Teaching is an amazing career, and we love seeing instructor candidates progress to successful careers as educators themselves.

Additionally, the staff at Priority Care occasionally serve as advisors and curriculum designers for various professional response agencies.

 

Industry wide partnerships and experience

Our educators are veteran paramedics, who have decades of experience working on 911 ambulances here in BC.  They also have experience in many other areas, including:

  • Working in a frontline educational leadership position for BCEHS (the provincial ambulance service), with direct involvement in research, curriculum development, and course delivery for paramedics throughout the province.
  • Teaching at the Justice Institute of BC (in the Primary Care Paramedic program).
  • Conducting First Responder, EMR and Paramedic licensing exams.
  • Working as a WorkSafe BC First Aid Officer in support of the Occupational First Aid program.
  • Working as an Emergency and Operating room nurse.
  • Volunteering as a Search and Rescue Technician.
  • Consulting with various organizations and departments in support of their medical programs, including law enforcement, the fire services, the SAR community, and the military.

 

Nationally certified courses

All of our courses are developed by the Canadian Red Cross, one of  the leading developers of First Aid and entry level EMS courses in Canada.  Red Cross courses are updated frequently to ensure that they deliver the best standards possible, and they include a wide variety of digital and print materials to support the student’s learning.

 

Here are some of the courses that we offer at Priority Care:

 

BC EMALB First Responder and EMR Scope of Practice Upgrade Course:

In 2021 the BC Minister of Health initiated a mandatory process to upgrade the prehospital care provided by EMA license holders in British Columbia (First Responders, Emergency Medical Responders, Primary Care Paramedics, Advanced Care Paramedics, Critical Care Paramedics).

Priority Care has been involved in the development of education to support these new scope of practice enhancements, and we are excited to announce that training is now available so that First Responders and Emergency Medical Responders who are licensed in BC can upgrade their license and improve the care they provide to their patients.

This licensing upgrade has been mandated by the Minister of Health, and must be completed by September, 2024.

Please click HERE to learn more about this exciting new education! 

 

First Responder:

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Are you interested in working as a professional first responder or firefighter? If so the Canadian Red Cross First Responder course is for you.

First Responders provide a vital link in the care of the ill and injured patient in the pre-hospital setting. First Responders are often the first professional health care provider that the patient may encounter, and provide invaluable care until emergency medical responders or paramedics arrive to provide more advanced care and transport the patient to the hospital.

In British Columbia first responders are usually firefighters, but also include police officers, search and rescue personnel, coast guard staff, and many others.

Upon succesful completion of our First Responder course you will receive 3 year national First Responder certification, certification in BLS level CPR, and you will be eligible to examine with the British Columbia Emergency Assistant’s Licensing Board to obtain a license to practice in BC’s 911 system as a first responder.  Obtaining this license is a necessary step towards seeking employment as a career firefighter.

All First Responder courses delivered by Priority Care include the full 2023 EMALB Scope of Practice update!

Click HERE to learn more about the First Responder course.

Emergency Medical Responder:

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Are you interested in a career as a paramedic, or in furthering your advanced first aid knowledge beyond first responder for your fire services career?  If so Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course is the right course for you.

Emergency Medical Responder is the base level of care provided by the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) in rural and remote areas, and is the starting point for a career in paramedicine. In these areas Emergency Medical Responders provide a vital link in the care of the ill and injured patient in the pre-hospital setting, providing life saving aid and transportation to the hospital. Outside of paramedicine EMRs often work providing care at large public events, in the oil patch, for some fire departments and Search and Rescue organizations, etc.

EMR is also the pre-requisite to furthering your education in the paramedic field.

Upon successful completion of our emergency medical responder course or EMR Bridging course you will receive 3 year national EMR certification, including certification in BLS level CPR, and you will be eligible to examine with the British Columbia Emergency Assistant’s Licensing Board to obtain a license to practice in BC’s 911 system as an EMR.  Obtaining this license is a crucial first step in becoming a paramedic.

All Emergency Medical Responder courses delivered by Priority Care include the full 2023 EMALB Scope of Practice update!

Click HERE to learn more about the Emergency Medical Responder course.

Click HERE to learn more about the accelerated Emergency Medical Responder upgrade course.

Canadian Red Cross Instructor Development:

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Ever wondered how to build a successful career as a Canadian Red Cross instructor?

Priority Care is a leader in the delivery of instructor development programs. Our Instructor Trainers and Master Instructor Trainers have decades of experience training new instructors and working directly with the Canadian Red Cross in areas such as course design.

We offer full instructor courses for new instructor candidates, and instructor recertification courses for existing Canadian Red Cross instructors.

Click HERE to learn more about the Red Cross Instructor Development program.

Click HERE to learn more about the Red Cross Instructor Recertification program.

 

 

 

Testimonials:

“I would like to say thank you to the instructors at Priority Care for their excellent instruction. The EMR course I took was well paced, had a perfect mix of theoretical and hands on training, and was always taught in accordance with current EMS practice in BC. The instructors brought their practical experience as paramedics into the classroom, ensuring we were job ready and well prepared for the EMALB licensing exams.

I passed my licensing exams on the first try, and was subsequently hired on as a paramedic with BCEHS.  I love my job!”

Shawn – Paramedic

 

“For the last 10 years Priority Care First Aid has taught emergency medical courses for our SAR team that meet and exceed the requirements set for Search & Rescue personnel by the BC government, and when required by the EMA Licensing Branch.

The instructor is a gifted teacher who brings his many years of experience as a paramedic into the classroom and who delivers content in a fun and very relatable way. Our members return from his courses with new found knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm, and a deep appreciation of their role in patient care.

On top of that, Priority Care has been extremely supportive of our team. First Aid is a key skill for all SAR members and we are lucky to receive training that adds great value to our organization and to our community.”

Erica
Training Officer
Search and Rescue Team

 

“I want to commend you and your team of Instructors for the outstanding courses I attended at Priority Care.  As a former Paramedic returning to the practice of Paramedicine part time, coupled with being a volunteer firefighter and first responder, I attended both the First Responder and Emergency Medical Responder programs put on by Priority Care and I am completely satisfied with the training and hands on experience that I have received (it prepared me very well for the EMALB licensing exams).

The Priority Care team bring decades of real life experience into the classroom, relating course content to real world emergency situations, which further aids in bridging course content to actual events where one may find themselves assisting the injured or ill. As a Deputy Chief of the local fire department in the Fraser Valley Regional District, I was so impressed that I have arranged to have the fire department firefighters and first responders attend a First Responder program with Priority Care.

I highly recommend the team at Priority Care.”

Ken
Fire Department Deputy Chief
BCEHS Paramedic

 

“I have been a member of Search and Rescue for over 20 years, and have taken first aid courses since my teens. There is something special about learning and training with Priority Care.

The instructor is effortlessly able to keep you engaged throughout the program with his charisma, stories and experience. Even with the most extreme scenarios we throw at him, his answers are clear, calm, and thoughtful… giving you confidence that you can respond correctly. This wisdom is then bolstered in the practical exercises securing your technical proficiency.

The instructor creates a memorable and dynamic learning environment. You leave his skilled training knowing that when you are called upon to help someone you can deliver quality accurate care.”

Carla
SAR Team Member

 

“Priority Care attended our office in December, 2019.

The instructor provided exceptional service to 6 of us who took his First Aid Instructor Course.
Their personality, professionalism, limitless knowledge and teaching skills were at the forefront of a perfect week of learning.

Thank you for your support before, during and after the course.”

Jason
RCMP Training Section