Research

Below you will find links to publications from key areas of my program of research and scholarly contributions. This also includes outputs from my students related to their evolving programs of research and scholarship. You’ll find links to peer-reviewed, professional, and technical/report publications, links to podcasts and videos, and poster presentations. A full list of my publications is here, details of my presentations are here, and copies of my poster presentations are here.

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Competency Framework Development

My PhD focused on improving how we identify the competencies required for professional practice. That is, how to figure out what should we expect a health professional to know AND do, in order to be deemed competent.

• Competency frameworks review paper
• Improving competency frameworks with systems thinking approach
• A model to develop competency frameworks
• Reporting the development of competency frameworks
• A review of the role of public and patient engagement in developing competency frameworks

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The National Competency Framework for Paramedics (NCFP)

In 2021 I was appointed by the Paramedic Association of Canada to develop a new competency framework for paramedics in Canada. This was a 2.5 year project that involved over 200 people.

• Review of emerging concepts in the paramedicine literature
• Identifying the system of paramedic practice in Canada.
• Developing the National Competency Framework for Paramedics.
• Updates on developing the NCFP

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Evolving profession of paramedicine, professional image and portrayal

• Career Framework for Paramedics – https://osf.io/wdh9m/
• Canadian Paramedic Landscape Review and Standards Roadmap
• Chapter 5. Professional Autonomy in: Tavares et al. Principles and Enabling Factors Guiding Paramedicine in Canada.
• Portrayals of a profession: reflecting on media depictions of paramedics
• Paramedicine: An evolving identity
• Textbook – Communication in Paramedic Practice

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Community Paramedicine

Community paramedicine is a specialist area of paramedicine practice where paramedics work in primary care, public health, and social prescribing roles. My research in this area focuses on identifying what makes this context of practice unique, and how we need to prepare those working in such roles.

• Forthcoming: The roles of community paramedics in Canada – https://osf.io/u6ank
• Forthcoming: Identifying the system of community paramedic practice in Ontario.
• Forthcoming: Developing the Ontario Community Paramedic Competency Framework
• Forthcoming: Ontario Community Paramedic Competency Framework – https://osf.io/68nv3/
• Advances in Community Paramedicine in response to COVID-19
• Community paramedicine practice framework scoping exercise
• The development of community paramedicine; a restricted review
• Community paramedicine supporting community needs
• Advantages and challenges experienced with the implementation and delivery of community paramedicine programs
• Potential for Paramedic Roles in Irish General Practice
• Standardized Patient Assessment in Community Paramedicine Home Visits
• Community Paramedicine Needs Assessment Tool

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Care of marginalized and under-served populations

Both my own work and that of my students often focuses on populations who are marginalized and face inequities in access to care and services. This includes people who use drugs, Indigenous communities, people experiencing homelessness, palliative care, and others.

• The Paramedic Role in Caring for People Who Use Illicit and Controlled Drugs
• Drug Use-Related Curriculum for Paramedic Students in British Columbia
• Dealing with dying – progressing paramedics’ role in grief support
• Attitudes of Canadian paramedic students towards homelessness
• Empathy levels in Canadian paramedic students
• Exploring empathy levels among Canadian paramedic students
• Paramedic patient advocacy
• Paramedic response to the opioid crisis CSA standard

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Research capacity

• A scoping review of out-of-hospital research in Ireland from 2000 to 2022
• Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of a National Research Strategy for Paramedicine in Ireland
• Identifying the essential elements to inform the development of a research agenda for Paramedicine in Ireland
• Building research capacity in Irish pre-hospital practitioners
• Forthcoming: Chapter – Education. In: Pursuing a research career: A handbook for paramedics
• Growing the next generation of paramedic researchers in Canada
• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Paramedicine Research Networks

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Theory and conceptual engagement

• The need for theory, theoretical frameworks, and conceptual frameworks in paramedic research
• Chapter – Theoretical and conceptual frameworks in paramedicine research in Introducing, designing, and conducting research for paramedics
• Forthcoming: Chapter – Research Paradigms in Paramedic Research: Principles, design, and methods

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Violence against paramedics

I’m a member of the Violence in Paramedicine Research Group. The Violence in Paramedicine Research Group is a collaboration between Peel Regional Paramedic Services, Urgences-Santé, the University of Windsor, the University of Toronto, and Queen’s University. Together with a growing list of industry and community partners, we are committed to developing evidence-informed policy that:

• Mitigates the risk of violence against paramedics and Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs)
• Supports paramedics and EMDs who have been affected
• Strengthens paramedic and community safety at emergency calls with a high risk of violence

The latest research from the group can be accessed here: https://www.protectparamedics.com/latest-research

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Sponsoring women in paramedicine

• Going beyond mentoring for women in paramedicine
• Sponsorship talk at EMS Leadership Summit
• Leveling the gender field for a brighter future in paramedicine

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Patient safety and quality improvement

• Patient safety and quality improvement education for paramedics: practicing what we preach
• Enhancing patient safety education for paramedics with the IHI Open School