Kevin Smith1,2
1British Columbia Emergency Health Services
2Paramedic Chiefs of Canada
The present state of many paramedic systems is not viable, requiring urgent changes to meet the needs of patients and their communities, the healthcare system, and our providers. Over the past decade, paramedic systems globally have experienced significant challenges, exasperated further in the post-pandemic environment. In the face of these many demands, ensuring a framework in the transformation of the paramedicine profession and service delivery model is critical to success.
In this session, we will review the factors challenging our systems and explore opportunities to go beyond just sustaining, but thriving, with paramedicine as an essential component of our health care systems.
Biography:
Kevin Smith is the Chief Systems and Strategy Officer for British Columbia Emergency Health Services and is the President of the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada.
Kevin started his career as a paramedic in Niagara, Ontario after graduating from Niagara College in 1992 and going on to receive his Advanced Care Paramedic designation from the Michener Institute, Toronto in 1998. Receiving his Bachelors of Applied Business in Emergency Services degree in 2010, Kevin has worked through various leadership roles to his current position as Chief Systems and Strategy Officer for British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), one of North America’s largest emergency health service. Prior to joining BCEHS in May 2022, Kevin was Chief of Niagara Emergency Medical Services where he helped lead the transformation of the paramedic service to an internationally recognized evidence-based model of system design. Kevin’s professional passion is to help lead in advancing paramedic services in an integrated health framework to meet the escalating demands on health resources and better meet the needs of the people who rely on paramedic services. Kevin is active in national and international organizations and is currently the President of the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada.