Paramedic Emergency Skills Program (PESP)

Midwives are training paramedics across Ontario in out-of-hospital emergency childbirth skills.

The AOM, in partnership with the Ontario Base Hospital Group (OBHG), developed the Paramedic Emergency Skills Program (PESP): Managing Birth Out-of-Hospital to support continued paramedic education. The PESP encompasses the evolving scope of paramedic practice as it relates to the management of uncomplicated childbirth and childbirth emergencies. 

In 2023, the PESP manual and workshop were revised to include important changes to the Basic Life Support Patient Care Standards and Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards, including the addition of oxytocin to the management of postpartum hemorrhage.

The PESP is currently available in a hybrid learning format, including self-paced online preparation prior to the in-person workshop. The in-person workshop is a half-day event that focuses on scenario-based learning and debriefing in teams. The primary goal of the workshop is to provide paramedics with the knowledge, evidence-based practice, and hands-on skills to safely manage out-of-hospital childbirth and childbirth emergencies with confidence.

Emergency scenarios include the management of:

  • Uncomplicated childbirth, including nuchal cord management and placental delivery
  • Denied or hidden pregnancy, and other at-risk populations with limited prenatal care
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Breech birth
  • Twin birth and multiple gestation
  • Malpresentation and cord prolapse
  • Postpartum hemorrhage

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions below for additional information. Have more questions? Please contact pesp@aom.on.ca

Interested in hosting a PESP workshop? Complete the PESP Request Form

Looking to purchase a copy of the PESP manual, 2nd edition? Visit our online store

PESP Frequently Asked Questions

What is included when I register for a PESP workshop?

As part of registration, participation in the PESP workshop includes pre-workshop access to:

  • PESP manual, 2nd edition, 
  • printable workshop guide,
  • pre-workshop eLearning course, and
  • multiple-choice (MCQ) self-assessment.

Registration fees also include the half-day in-person workshop which focuses on scenario-based learning and debriefing in teams. The primary goal of the workshop is to provide paramedics with the knowledge, evidence-based practice, and hands-on skills to safely manage out-of-hospital deliveries and childbirth emergencies with confidence.

How much time will it take me to complete the pre-workshop requirements?

To prepare for the in-person workshop, registrants are required to read the PESP manual, review the eLearning course and workshop guide, and complete a multiple-choice (MCQ) self-assessment.

Registrants should allot 6-8 hours to complete all pre-workshop requirements.

Will I be graded during the workshop and if so, is there a minimum passing grade?

No, you will not be graded during the PESP workshop.

The pre-workshop self-assessment is open-book and based on the contents of the PESP manual. The purpose of this self-assessment is to help guide your learning and preparation for the in-person workshop.

The in-person workshop is designed to have an emphasis on learning and building confidence rather than testing that results in a pass or fail. The focus is on review, repetition, reflection, and collaboration. This happens through discussion with instructors and other participants, role playing and scenario-based learning and debriefing.

Our goal is to ensure that you feel more confident in your ability to manage emergency childbirth situations in the pre-hospital setting.

How much does a PESP workshop cost?

The cost of the workshop, including all student materials, is $330 per person (plus HST). 

Student materials include access to the:

  • PESP manual, 2nd edition, 
  • printable workshop guide,
  • pre-workshop eLearning course, and
  • multiple-choice (MCQ) self-assessment.

Who can attend a PESP workshop?

  • Primary care paramedics
  • Advanced care paramedics
  • Paramedic educators
  • Paramedic students attending a recognized post-secondary paramedic program

For questions related to eligibility requirements, please email pesp@aom.on.ca.

Will I qualify for CME credits if I successfully complete a PESP workshop?

Yes, the PESP is accredited by the Centre for Paramedic Education & Research (CPER).

Upon completion of the PESP workshop, you will receive a certificate of completion. Paramedics who successfully complete the PESP workshop are eligible for 8 CME credits.

How do I register for a PESP workshop?

Hosting a workshop in your community is the easiest way to register for a PESP workshop.

To host a PESP workshop, you will need to find at least two other participants and a venue in your community to host the workshop (e.g., paramedic station, hospital, etc.). A minimum of 3 participants per instructor is required.

A suitable venue should meet the following criteria:

  • a room that will hold 4-5 people and PESP equipment,
  • enough space to move comfortably and practice simulated emergencies, and  
  • a table, bed, or stretcher where an obstetric torso can be placed to act out the scenarios. 

Other equipment required for the workshop (e.g., obstetric torso, infant models, etc.) are included in the workshop fees.

If you are interested in hosting a PESP workshop, please complete the PESP request form.

Can I purchase a copy of the PESP manual without registering for a workshop?

Yes. To purchase a copy of the PESP manual, 2nd edition, please visit our online store. The cost of the manual is $75 (plus HST).

Note: you are not required to purchase a copy of the PESP manual if you are registered for a PESP workshop. Registration fees for the PESP workshop include access to the PESP manual, 2nd edition.