You are encouraged to attend the defence. The details of the defence and attendance information is included below: 

Date: March 18, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (PT)

Defence mode: Hybrid
In-Person Attendance: Senate Chambers, UNBC Prince George Campus  
Virtual Attendance: via Zoom 

LINK TO JOIN: Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration for information regarding remote attendance for online defences. 

To ensure the defence proceeds with no interruptions, please mute your audio and video on entry and do not inadvertently share your screen. The meeting will be locked to entry 5 minutes after it begins: please ensure you are on time.  

Thesis entitled: PERSPECTIVES OF AN INTERVENTION: BRITISH COLUMBIA EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICES COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS PERSPECTIVES OF CHRONIC CONDITION MANAGEMENT IN RURAL AND REMOTE BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Abstract: Persistent challenges in delivering healthcare in rural and remote areas have resulted in healthcare inequities including increased rates of chronic conditions. Increased exacerbation, diminished healthspan, and poor quality of life are all markers of this inequity. To improve this, British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) introduced their Community Paramedic program to bridge gaps in chronic condition management among rural and remote populations. This research was designed to understand the community paramedic’s perspective of chronic condition management, program outcomes, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community paramedic practice. 

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 practicing BCEHS community paramedics. Interpretive description methodology was used to guide thematic analysis with four primary themes emerging: community paramedics provide a unique approach to care delivery and offer a valuable perspective of the patient who they engage with, community paramedics introduce novel attributes of care including face-to-face engagements in patient homes, community paramedicine bridges health service delivery gaps and demonstrates improvements in chronic condition management, the COVID-19 pandemic affirmed the adaptability of community paramedics and the need to continue foundational care approaches. This study provided rich perspectives and insight into community paramedic practice across rural and remote British Columbia and the potential it holds to continue to bridge health service delivery gaps among a long-underserved population. 

Defence Committee:  
Chair: Dr. Neil Hanlon, University of Northern British Columbia  
Supervisor: Dr. Tammy Klassen-Ross, University of Northern British Columbia  
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Chelsea Pelletier, University of Northern British Columbia  
Committee Member: Dr. Davina Banner-Lukaris, University of Northern British Columbia  
External Examiner: Dr. Floyd Besserer, University of Northern British Columbia