Written and edited by over 20 clinicians within paramedicine and community paramedicine backgrounds, this essential reference text sets out the core clinical skills expected for community paramedics working in primary care settings in Canada.
Alongside a comprehensive range of topics related to community paramedicine practice in primary care settings, including assessment, diagnosis, investigations and management of a number of different presentations, it also covers aspects of consultation techniques, decision making and professional issues. Clinical chapters are concluded with case studies to help put theory into practice for the community paramedic working in the primary care setting.
Exploring the scope of the paramedic role and its fundamentals within the world of community paramedicine, this is a clinical reference for paramedics already practising community paramedicine, while also equipping prospective paramedics with the required theoretical underpinning and context necessary to build meaningful knowledge and understanding in this field.
This edition adapted in line with Canadian practice.
Matt Cruchet is a Commander with the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service in Ontario, where he holds responsibility for Program Development and Education. He is an Advanced Care Paramedic with a decade of experience as a community paramedic, working primarily within a rural Family Health Team. He has also provided care in Indigenous community health clinics during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His work in Renfrew County received national recognition when featured on CBCs White Coat, Black Art.
Matt developed the education curriculum for the Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC) that prepared paramedics to work in the clinic environment within the programme. This curriculum drew on international primary care paramedic models, including many presented in this book. He has contributed to paramedicine standards and education at provincial, national, and international levels, including the Ontario Community Paramedic Competency Framework, the National Competency Framework for Paramedics (CSA Z1660), the National HSO Healthcare Education standard (CAN/HSO 40001:2026), the interRAI Community Paramedicine Contact Assessment Form and Users Manual, and courses within Monash Universitys Master of Specialist Paramedic Practice.
Matt holds a Master of Science in Medical Education and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators. He is committed to developing paramedic roles within integrated healthcare delivery, particularly in communities where access to primary care remains limited.
Shannon Leduc is a Canadian paramedic leader, researcher, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of paramedic practice, health system innovation, and scholarship. As Commander of Clinical Programs at the Ottawa Paramedic Service, she has led the development, launch, and scaling of a range of innovative programs, including community paramedicine initiatives, alternative care pathways, and collaborative models designed to support patients outside of traditional emergency department care.
With a background as an Advanced Care Paramedic and graduate training in epidemiology, Shannon brings both operational and scholarly perspectives to the evolution of the profession. She is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Ottawas School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Affiliate Investigator with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and a PhD student in Paramedicine at Monash University. Her academic and leadership work is centered on community paramedicine, health system integration, and the evolving role of paramedics within the health system.
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Professional Considerations
Georgette Eaton
Chapter 2 - Consultation Skills and the Diagnostic Process
Tom Mallinson
Chapter 3 - Decision-making Theory
Jaqualine Lindridge
Chapter 4 - Laboratory Investigations
Colin Roberts
Chapter 5 - Neurological Presentations
Chris McGregor and Georgette Eaton
Chapter 6 - Mental Health Presentations
Anita Cawley
Chapter 7 - Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat Presentations
Ajay Bhatt and Georgette Eaton
Chapter 8 - Respiratory Presentations
Marc Gildas Thomas
Chapter 9 - Cardiovascular Presentations
Jessica Willetts
Chapter 10 - Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Presentations
Ant Kitchener
Chapter 11 - Genitourinary and Gynaecological Presentations
Sarah Brown and Elizabeth Steer
Chapter 12 - Contraception and Sexual Health
Alyesha Proctor
Chapter 13 - Obstetric Presentations
Aimee Yarrington
Chapter 14 - Musculoskeletal Presentations
Sarah Jardine and Georgette Eaton
Chapter 15 - Dermatological Presentations
Vanessa Smeardon
Chapter 16 - Endocrine Presentations
Ant Kitchener
Chapter 17 - Palliative and End-of-Life Care Presentations
Cheryl Cameron, Karina Catley and Joseph Francis
Chapter 18 - A Note on Assessing and Managing Chronic Pain
Jim Huddy and Keith Mitchell
Chapter 19 - Making Every Contact Count: Health Promotion in Primary Care
Andrew Hichisson
Chapter 20 - Home Visits and Community-Based Care
Matt Cruchet
