This conversation explores the critical thinking skills essential for paramedics, highlighting personal journeys, the transition from PCP to ACP, and the importance of curiosity and emotional intelligence in patient care. The discussion emphasizes the challenges faced in decision-making, the role of experience, and the significance of collaboration and self-care in the demanding field of paramedicine. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the essential characteristics of effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of integrity, feedback, and communication in high-stress environments like paramedicine. They discuss how personal life impacts professional performance and the significance of maintaining morale within teams. The dialogue also highlights the value of curiosity and continuous learning in healthcare, along with advice for future professionals in the field.

paramedic, critical thinking, ACP, PCP, emotional intelligence, leadership, teamwork, self-care, patient care, decision making, leadership, integrity, morale, communication, paramedicine, healthcare, personal development, feedback, emotional intelligence, teamwork, paramedic preceptor, prehospital care, FOAM

We thought we’d send out a quick intro to season 1 of the goMedic podcast because Greg, Bensen and I are really enjoying interviewing all the guests you’re going to hear in 2026.

We have interviewed a number of community paramedics to talk to them about case studies and things they’ve learned in their roles in primary health care. We’ve spoken with a very accomplished physician who also happens to be a medical director in both the prehospital and community paramedicine worlds. He was so generous with his time and his interview was so interesting, we decided to make it a two-part episode. We’ve chatted with frontline paramedics about what it means to be an excellent clinician, how to develop your critical thinking skills and what characteristic make you stand out as a professional. We’ve really enjoyed our conversations with several paramedic chiefs and senior leaders. These have been really insightful conversations about building your leadership path, what it takes to succeed as a paramedic and as a leader, how to make the biggest impact when you’re starting a new role, how to build successful teams including community paramedic teams, and how to use emotional intelligence and feedback to be a respected leader.

We really want this podcast to be about sharing perspectives from many different areas in the prehospital world and we love doing these interviews. As you’re listening to these episodes, if you think of someone who you think would be awesome on this podcast or maybe a topic that would be cool to hear about, please get in touch with us. We’d really love to hear from you. The best way to let us know your ideas is to go to our website gomediconline.ca and click on the podcast page. There, you’ll find a message box that makes it easy for you to submit ideas. You can also sign up for our e-mail list and get our monthly newsletter. On our website you’ll also find information about our courses and resources.

Everyone who is working with goMedic really cares about what it takes to be a great prehospital provider and we are all very proud to serve our communities in whatever role we have. So it’s our goal to really be able to get these conversations out there more and make the podcast something that you as our listeners really feel a part of. We all know how podcasts work and how much it helps the podcast’s growth if listeners like or follow or share episodes. So it would be silly of us not to mention this to you. It’s a really easy way to support the podcasts that you enjoy listening to.

With all that said, I’m going to sign off for now. Our first official episode will be live on January 6th 2026 so make sure you tune in to that! Thanks so much for listening. We hope you have a safe and peaceful holiday season.

In this episode, Bensen and Maggie discuss the role of community paramedics in managing patient care, particularly focusing on medication management and the social determinants of health. They explore a case study involving a patient with multiple chronic conditions, emphasizing the importance of medication safety, communication with primary care providers, and addressing social needs such as food insecurity. The conversation highlights the integration of pharmacological knowledge with community resources to improve patient outcomes.

Check out our Pharmacology for Community Paramedics course here!

community paramedicine, medication management, pharmacology, social determinants of health, patient care, community support, healthcare communication, chronic conditions, food insecurity, patient safety