The College has jurisdiction to hear complaints against any EMR, EMT, or EMT-P registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics. Complaints must be made in writing about the conduct, skill, judgment, or fitness to practice. A complaint is initiated when:
- An individual sends in a letter of complaint.
- An employer sends in notice of termination in accordance with Section 54 of the Health Disciplines Act.
- A committee of the College refers information to the Professional Conduct Manager.
- The Professional Conduct Manager is aware of professional misconduct or for non-compliance with an Order or agreement from Mediation process.
Formal Complaints
- Must be in writing;
- Identify the person(s) involved (including the complainant and practitioner(s));
- Detail the alleged professional misconduct;
- Must be signed by the complainant; and
- Contain the complainant's mailing address.
If any of the above information is missing, the letter may be returned to the complainant.
Complaint Process
Upon receipt of a complaint, the College must determine if it has jurisdiction to review the complaint.
- Is the individual a registered practitioner with the College?
- Do the allegations meet the threshold of being detrimental to the best interests of the public, contravene the Act or Regulations, or display a lack of knowledge, skill, or judgment in the practice of paramedicine?
If the College has jurisdiction to review the complaint, the investigated practitioner may be contacted to provide a statement in response to the complaint. Investigated practitioners are entitled to know the nature of the complaint made against them and the name of the complainant. Therefore, a copy of the letter of complaint is provided to the investigated practitioner. The complainant's personal information, such as address and telephone number, is not disclosed.
On receipt of the response, the complaint is assessed to determine if the matter is appropriate for Alternative Complaint Resolution (mediation) or whether the matter should be formally investigated.