LAKEKLAND - An infusion by the Alberta government of $875,000 into the Portage College Paramedicine program will open the course up to 24 more students this year. The funds are expected to continue in the following years, creating 36 student placements over the next three years.
The funds, from the Targeted Enrolment Expansion Initiative will help with "significant wait-lists" for the program, says Portage's Associate Dean of Health and Wellness Shona Hommy.
"With this funding, we will be able to expand our Paramedicine program by admitting additional students for the next three academic years," she said.
The Paramedicine program courses include Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP). Last year, Portage’s Paramedicine program was granted the highest possible accreditation and given full approval status by the Alberta College of Paramedics.
“The Paramedicine team works hard to provide each student the individualized support they need to meet their unique needs, to model professional excellence and to ensure program and curriculum quality.” Said Hommy.
Meeting the demand
The expanded programming will assist with the growing need to have more trained healthcare professionals in the workforce.
"We have a phenomenal Paramedicine program with exceedingly qualified faculty that graduates highly trained and prepared paramedics. Portage College is well positioned to assist in meeting the demand for more qualified paramedics to serve the province and in particular the northern rural communities," said Dr. Donna Feledichuk, the Vice President of Academic and Research at Portage.
The Enrolment Expansion Initiative is part of the province's largest targeted enrolment expansion initiative, which is a $193-million-dollar investment in post-secondary education.
** See the special EMS Week section in your Lakeland This Week newspaper, available across the region. **
