A new provincial bursary aims to make emergency medical responder training more accessible — a move the province says will boost emergency health care in rural municipalities.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from local municipalities that they rely on EMRs (emergency medical responders) to deliver front-line emergency services and keep people in the communities,” Premier Wab Kinew said in a Nov. 26 news release.
WHY IT MATTERS: Rural municipalities say they have struggled for years to recruit and retain an adequate healthcare workers.
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Emergency medical responders are “trained healthcare professionals who provide immediate, life-saving care in emergency situations,” according to healthcareersmanitoba.ca. They work alongside paramedics.
The province announced a $5,000 bursary for students who complete the training program. Graduates who receive the bursary will enter a one-year return-of-service agreement to help staff emergency services and “encourage them to put down roots and build a career in rural Manitoba,” the Nov. 26 release said.
The province also committed to working with allied health leadership to support emergency medical responders who want to upgrade their skills to become primary care paramedics and to help recruit and retain more paramedics.
CritiCare Paramedic Academy is conducting in-community emergency medical responder training in Arborg this year.
