Hastings County Council is being recommended to approve a program that aims to incentivize skills training and improvement of paramedics.
The Hastings Quinte Emergency Services Committee recommended approval of a loan program totalling $18,000 to pay tuition costs for regular paramedics to take the one-year Advanced Care Paramedic program at one of the colleges offering the course, such as Durham College in Oshawa.
The successful student would have three years to repay the loan and could be reimbursed for the final year’s payments under certain conditions.
A report from paramedic chief Carl Bowker stated there is a major need for ACPs across the industry who offer higher quality of care.
Hastings/Quinte Paramedic Services currently has only 16 ACPs while there’s a need for 56.
The loan program will be established on a go-forward basis and available to current paramedic staff who are registered in an Advanced Care Paramedic Program starting in 2027 and beyond.
Council will consider this recommendation at its next meeting.
