Renaming of MedTech and MedA

[axle]

Good day,

I am planning to VOT to MedTech or MedA in the Reserves. While browsing the forces.ca website I noticed that these two trades will be renamed.

MedA will be renamed to Combat Medic, and people applying to MedTech will have to choose to be either Combat Medic or Paramedic. There will be changes in the training and career requirements.

Does anybody have any information?

Thank you.

 

[Staff Weenie]

Good day,

I am planning to VOT to MedTech or MedA in the Reserves. While browsing the forces.ca website I noticed that these two trades will be renamed.

MedA will be renamed to Combat Medic, and people applying to MedTech will have to choose to be either Combat Medic or Paramedic. There will be changes in the training and career requirements.

Does anybody have any information?

Thank you.

The answers are somewhat situationally dependent:

What is your current civilian clinical skill set and certification/license: If you are applying to the reserves, and you are not currently qualified at a minimum as a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) in your home Province, then you cannot apply for Paramedic. You will have to go Combat Medic. If, in the future, you became a qualified Paramedic, you could apply for a Voluntary Occupation Transfer (VOT) to Paramedic.

Is there a spot available: Does the Reserve Field Ambulance you are seeking to join have many Paramedics? Every unit in the Canadian Armed Forces has a set number of positions that are further divided up by rank and occupation. So, each Reserve Field Ambulance will have a set number of positions for both Combat Medic and Paramedic. If the Paramedic positions are full, they will not be able to take any new applicants, and you would have to be a Combat Medic, even if you were a certified/licensed Paramedic - at least until a spot opened up.

Now, all of the Reserve Field Ambulances are at the start of a modernization program, and all of them are supposed to grow (my unit will be doubling in size). Most of the current troops in the units are Medical Assistants, and will become Combat Medics. That means that the odds are good that if you are PCP qualified, there will be a Paramedic spot available. If not, there will be a lot more Combat Medic positions being created in the units.

The training is also going to change - we need our Combat Medics to be able to better integrate into and support the Combat Arms units - that means adding more field training such as the course formerly known as Basic Military Qualification - Land. We will also be looking and adding more clinical skills to the Combat Medics. That said, the new training programs have not been rolled out yet, so I don't have solid details.

Where are you looking at joining?

 

[axle]

The answers are somewhat situationally dependent:

What is your current civilian clinical skill set and certification/license: If you are applying to the reserves, and you are not currently qualified at a minimum as a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) in your home Province, then you cannot apply for Paramedic. You will have to go Combat Medic. If, in the future, you became a qualified Paramedic, you could apply for a Voluntary Occupation Transfer (VOT) to Paramedic.

Is there a spot available: Does the Reserve Field Ambulance you are seeking to join have many Paramedics? Every unit in the Canadian Armed Forces has a set number of positions that are further divided up by rank and occupation. So, each Reserve Field Ambulance will have a set number of positions for both Combat Medic and Paramedic. If the Paramedic positions are full, they will not be able to take any new applicants, and you would have to be a Combat Medic, even if you were a certified/licensed Paramedic - at least until a spot opened up.

Now, all of the Reserve Field Ambulances are at the start of a modernization program, and all of them are supposed to grow (my unit will be doubling in size). Most of the current troops in the units are Medical Assistants, and will become Combat Medics. That means that the odds are good that if you are PCP qualified, there will be a Paramedic spot available. If not, there will be a lot more Combat Medic positions being created in the units.

The training is also going to change - we need our Combat Medics to be able to better integrate into and support the Combat Arms units - that means adding more field training such as the course formerly known as Basic Military Qualification - Land. We will also be looking and adding more clinical skills to the Combat Medics. That said, the new training programs have not been rolled out yet, so I don't have solid details.

Where are you looking at joining?

Thank you Staff Weenie for your response. I live in Vancouver BC. I do not have any medical training besides basic CPR.

Since I do not have PCP, I will be applying to the Combat Medic position. However I planned to take an EMR course. Do you think it is beneficial to get EMR license before applying, or it doesn't matter?

 

[mariomike]

people applying to MedTech will have to choose to be either Combat Medic or Paramedic.

From SMEs "at the coal face",

That is when the PCP qualified Med Tech appeared in the Reg F. We (at the coal face) knew from the very outset that it was just not sustainable for a variety of reasons.

Medics are not maintaining their PCP licence for the same reason that they are not completing their yearly MCSP requirements. And its not because Med techs lack motivation or drive.

I have been a Medic for 11 years. I'm on my 6Th posting, and have been licensed as a PCP in 5 different provinces. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to maintain a licence but I have finally given up. 11 years in, and I have only had 2 shifts on Amb through the MCSP program.

Until the CoC gets serious about providing real MCSP for Medics (that EHS in Canada will honor), most Medics will not be able to maintain a licence.

The issue I've found is that I was licensed in BC upon completion of my PCP. Now I'm posted in Ontario and I asked about challenging the Ontario exam to become licensed here. I was told that the unit will only pay for QL5's to do this. I also haven't received any opportunities for MCSP, and I've been posted for over 2 years now. So now my license in BC has expired and I do not hold any sort of qualification in Ontario. I'd hoped the military would have been more supportive of keeping us Med Tech's licensed so that the training we'd received would be more useful.

 

[Staff Weenie]

Thank you Staff Weenie for your response. I live in Vancouver BC. I do not have any medical training besides basic CPR.

Since I do not have PCP, I will be applying to the Combat Medic position. However I planned to take an EMR course. Do you think it is beneficial to get EMR license before applying, or it doesn't matter?

EMR is actually part of the training that will be provided to Combat Medics. While it might make your file more competitive if they have numerous applicants and limited positions, you will get paid to take the training if you are successful in getting in.

 

[stoker dave]

Without taking this discussion too far off topic, can anyone offer information on assignment of medics (combat or paramedic) to ships? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Staff Weenie]

From SMEs "at the coal face",

For Regular Force applicants - yes, they will need to choose between Combat Medic or Paramedic. I am also not certain they will accept any Paramedics for a few years. They will be reducing from about 1,300 Med Techs to about 300 Paramedics in the Regular Force, and all of the remainder (who are already all qualified as Paramedics), will end up as Combat Medics. We've already been told that Component Transfers of Reserve Paramedics into the Regular Force will be closed for a couple of years.

For Reserve Force, the stream you enter as will depend on the background you have when you apply. No PCP - you're a Combat Medic. You have a current PCP - you may choose either option.

 

[Staff Weenie]

Without taking this discussion too far off topic, can anyone offer information on assignment of medics (combat or paramedic) to ships? Just curious. Thanks.

Good question - almost all of the information I have is focused on land operations. I'll see if I can dig into it and find an answer.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Without taking this discussion too far off topic, can anyone offer information on assignment of medics (combat or paramedic) to ships? Just curious. Thanks.

I don't think the medical staff complement on HMC Ships has changed much in the last half century except for some of the rank levels and the qualifications. Typically, a warship's medical department consisted of a Physician Assistant (used to be a Sgt/WO 6B Med A, now an officer) and a LS/Cpl Med Tech. In the old days, MOs (doctors) were only carried on the replenishment ships though it appears that MOs are now usually assigned to the frigates during deployments.

Enhanced medical and dental capabilities return to the RCN

With the launch and deployment of Asterix in January 2018, the RCN has re-established full medical and dental capabilities while at sea.

www.lookoutnewspaper.com

 

[stoker dave]

Thank you. Back in my day, yes, there was a WO MedA on the frigates and a physician on the tanker.

As an anecdote, I recall once going to see the MedA about some administrative item for a crewmember. While chatting, he reached out, grabbed my arm and started looking closely at a weird-shaped black splotch on my arm. Turns out it was black paint on my arm but I appreciated his prompt attention and thoughtfulness that I might have had some kind of melanoma.

I also recall once I was out with some type of stomach bug (no, not drinking related!). The MedA came by to check on me (in my bunk) from time to time. Not many doctors make house calls any more but, again, I really appreciated the thoughtfulness.

 

[MedCorps]

Thank you Staff Weenie for your response. I live in Vancouver BC. I do not have any medical training besides basic CPR.

Since I do not have PCP, I will be applying to the Combat Medic position. However I planned to take an EMR course. Do you think it is beneficial to get EMR license before applying, or it doesn't matter?

You will be required to have an EMR course (and maintain currency) as a Combat Medic as that is in the occupational specification. So no fear about getting an EMR course!

 

[MedCorps]

Without taking this discussion too far off topic, can anyone offer information on assignment of medics (combat or paramedic) to ships? Just curious. Thanks.

Medics on HMCS will be from the Paramedic MOSID.

 

[stoker dave]

So, for the original poster @axle should you become a fully qualified paramedic, you may look forward to possibly deploying on one of His Majesty's Canadian ships!

 

[MedCorps]

The problem in the Reserves is that there is no training pathway for someone who is not qualified as a Primary Care Paramedic (or higher) to be trained as a MOSID Paramedic. As such, if you so not hold a PCP / ACP / CCP in the Reserves you need to become a Combat Medic.

Although individual augmentation is always an option the role of the Reserve Field Ambulances is to support the Army,

 

[CountDC]

From SMEs "at the coal face",

It would be nice if the military paid for NCMs to maintain their licence instead of just the officers. Seems it is something that would be of benefit all around.

 

[mariomike]

It would be nice if the military paid for NCMs to maintain their licence instead of just the officers. Seems it is something that would be of benefit all around.

Medics requiring to maintain a license​

Post in thread 'Medics requiring to maintain a license'

13 Aug 2022

Reply #7 in this thread.

Medics are not maintaining their PCP licence for the same reason that they are not completing their yearly MCSP requirements. And its not because Med techs lack motivation or drive.
I have been a Medic for 11 years. I'm on my 6Th posting, and have been licensed as a PCP in 5 different provinces. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to maintain a licence but I have finally given up. 11 years in, and I have only had 2 shifts on Amb through the MCSP program.
Until the CoC gets serious about providing real MCSP for Medics (that EHS in Canada will...

• mariomike

• 

3 pages.

Sounds like getting "on-car" time in Ontario may be a challenge.

​

 

[MedCorps]

It would be nice if the military paid for NCMs to maintain their licence instead of just the officers. Seems it is something that would be of benefit all around.

The new Paramedic MOSID will see Paramedics paid to have their licences maintained. This is the same as other NCMs - MLAB TECH , DENT TECH, and MRAD TECH for example.

 

[mariomike]

Paramedicine is provincially regulated.

In Ontario,

Maintenance of Paramedic Certification

We provide trusted medical direction and advice, patient safety and quality programming, and continuing education to paramedics from nine paramedic services.

www.rppeo.ca

Maintenance of Paramedic Certification​

The Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards outline the requirements for paramedic annual maintenance of certification in Appendix 6.
In addition to the requirements set out in the Patient Care Standards, the RPPEO requires the following each year:

Each Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) must:

• • Be employed by a Paramedic Service

Each Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) must:

• • Be employed by a Paramedic Service

 

[brihard]

The new Paramedic MOSID will see Paramedics paid to have their licences maintained. This is the same as other NCMs - MLAB TECH , DENT TECH, and MRAD TECH for example.

What’s the intent behind splitting RegF Med Tech, and what will be the distribution of the two new occupations in real life? Once this all settles out in time and everyone is qualified to match their occupation, what will the ‘paramedics’ do versus the ‘combat medics’? I have to imagine RegF ‘combat medics’ will still need very considerable medical skillet, particularly in trauma care and CASEVAC, no? Is CAF going to substitute its own training curriculum for PCP/ACP to ensure they have the appropriate clinical skills to actually be able to go out the door and do field trauma care?

Not challenging this, just trying to understand the reasoning and vision.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Will there be any monetary incentives for one over the other?