EMS Profile: Terri Burton

What is your current position?  

Currently, I am the Chief of the Paramedic Service and Director of Emergency Services for the County of Renfrew. My responsibilities include providing leadership within the Paramedic Service as well as 911 services, Emergency Management and communication services to 19 fire departments in the county. In addition to my role with the County of Renfrew, I am President of the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada.

 Why did you decide to pursue a career in EMS?  

I can remember the words my mother said like they were spoken yesterday; "Your father was downtown today and collapsed." She went on to say, "The people he was in the elevator with started CPR right away, the ambulance attendants weren't far away and now all we can do is pray he makes the night."

As a young boy, feeling scared and helpless for my father's life, a chain of events began that led me to where I am today.

At the suggestion of my father's cardiologist, my family enrolled in a CPR course. This simple act did more than give my father a sense of comfort; it empowered and motivated me. I found myself following in the footsteps of many before me in this profession by becoming a lifeguard, swimming instructor, ski patroller and later a paramedic.

When did your first job commence as an EMS professional?

I was first granted a high school co-op placement with an Ottawa area ambulance service. From there, I started with Arnprior/Kanata Ambulance Service in 1990. I was extremely fortunate to have been mentored by a very strong and willing group of paramedics who took me under their wing. I was especially lucky given that I hadn't gone to college as of yet. The following year, I attended the Ambulance and Emergency Care Program at Ottawa's Algonquin College.

Please provide a brief description of your career.

I began my career as a ‘non-emergency medical care attendant' in Arnprior/Kanata Ambulance and later attended Algonquin College to become an Emergency Medical Care Attendant 1991. I often laugh that my first EMS title began with ‘non'! From there, I attended Seneca College's Aeromedical Program, the Toronto EMS/Sunnybrook Hospital Advanced Care Paramedic (P3) and Critical Care Flight Paramedic Programs.

The only opportunities to practice Advanced Life Support in Ontario in the early ‘90s were to work in the Toronto area or in the provincial air program. I was very fortunate to be hired by the Province of Ontario as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic. I was posted to the air base in Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario and served rural and First Nation's communities throughout the north. While in Sioux Lookout, I also became the quality assurance coordinator for the Northwestern Ontario Base Hospital Program.

Transitioning from clinical practice in Sioux Lookout, I moved to Prince Edward Island to work in the Education department at Holland College. I started as an Educator in the classroom and then got appointed as the Head of the Health Sciences Department. Through my years at Holland College, I worked closely with the Paramedic Association of Canada during the creation of the National Occupational Competency Profile and with the Canadian Medical Association as the EMS representative on the committee for program accreditation.

While on staff at Holland College, I completed a Diploma in Learning Management/Adult Education and began my Master's Degree in Leadership and Training at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. I have subsequently completed a Graduate Certificate in International Conflict Studies from Royal Roads University.

From Prince Edward Island, I returned to Ontario as the Deputy Chief of the Ottawa Paramedic Service and later served as the Director of Emergency Management for the City of Ottawa.

In my current role as the Chief/Director of Emergency Services with the County of Renfrew I am very fortunate to have a very strong team of staff and paramedics to serve the community. In addition to this role, I have been working closely with EMS Chiefs of Canada to advance and align EMS leadership across the country.

For the past few years, I have led the EMS Chiefs of Canada government relations committee. In 2009, I served under the mentorship of the presidency of Chief Bruce Farr as the President Elect. I was honoured to have been elected as the President of the EMS Chiefs of Canada this year.

What is the biggest challenge facing EMS today?

I believe the biggest challenge facing EMS is the shift in the Canadian demographic. Historically, the greatest demand for our service has been those over the age of sixty. This ‘boomer' age cohort is about to put pressures on Emergency Medical Services like never before seen in this country. As an industry, we need to think about what we do and how we do it. If we are going to be able to meet this challenge and continue to provide excellent services we need to be innovative and flexible in our delivery models. It is clear that more of the same will be untenable.

If you could change one thing in EMS what would it be?

Personally, I would have paramedics recognized as self-regulated professionals across Canada.

What does the future of EMS look like?

While there are common elements to our core business such as response and acute clinical care, I strongly believe that we have an opportunity to make a far greater contribution to Canadians through research, prevention and supportive community programs.

Our presence in communities across the country is unrivaled in medicine. We are a mobilized health force that should take its place in prevention and primary health care. As paramedics we appreciate firsthand why and how people become debilitated from injury and illness. We can make a difference in improving the quality of life of Canadians before they become our patients.

As paramedics we have knowledge, experience and skills that need to be more effectively utilized and shared where possible. We need to focus on opportunities to educate people with modifiable risk factors before they become our patients.  We need to have our services across the country coordinate efforts to provide their communities with education and opportunities to help manage risk factors.

By engaging in prevention activities we will not only be providing a valuable community service, we will also be serving to offset the impending demands on acute care.

What do you do when you are not working?

These days it seems most of my time is spent with my children at rugby or soccer games, canoeing, camping and painting. In the winter months, I enjoy reading as well as nordic and alpine skiing.

Biography

Michael Nolan has served Canadians through many facets of Emergency Medical Services. Beginning his career in 1990, as a Paramedic in Ottawa, Canada, Chief Nolan continued his studies in Toronto to become an Advanced Care Paramedic and worked in Northern Canada as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic and Quality Assurance Manager.

Chief Nolan educated mid-career Paramedics throughout Atlantic Canada as a Learning Manager and as a consultant, assisting emerging Emergency Medical Services to adopt a performance based system design. Michael's expertise lead to the establishment of a National Occupational Competency Profile, Essential Skills Profile, Canadian Emergency Health Services Research Consortium, and a National Office of Health Emergency Response Teams. As a member of the Committee for Conjoint Accreditation for the Canadian Medical Association, Michael takes pride in his early contributions to his profession.

Chief Nolan was a founding member of the City of Ottawa Paramedic Service in his tenure as Deputy Chief. He later graduated to the position of Director of Emergency Management for the City of Ottawa. Chief Nolan has continued his personal commitment to lifelong learning through the completion of his Master's Degree in Leadership and a post-graduate Diploma in International Conflict Studies at Royal Roads University.

As Chief of the Paramedic Service and Director of Emergency Services in Renfrew County, he has demonstrated significant commitment to coordinating a comprehensive National Government Relations Strategy for Emergency Medical Services across Canada. Michael co-authored the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada's White Paper, "The Future of EMS in Canada" and is currently leading a very successful National Emergency Medical Services branding initiative.

Chief Nolan is an active member of the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada (EMSCC). He has held a number of positions in the organization including the office of President Elect. In 2010, Chief Nolan was elected to the role of President of the EMSCC.

Representing Canadian Emergency Medical Services on many national and international committees related to policy development, research, interoperability and emergency management, Chief Nolan's efforts continue to advance and align Emergency Medical Services leadership in Canada.