Paramedics will now be able to add a wider variety of diagnostic tests, including portable laboratory blood testing and ultra sounds when they are out on a call.

These changes are being implemented because the paramedic profession is being transferred from the Health Disciplines Act to the Health Professionals Act.

For patients in rural communities and long term care facilities this will create a lot faster response to issues and diagnosis prior to arriving at the hospital.

“With paramedics on the frontlines of health care, they play a critical role in responding to the needs of patients," said Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Heath. "This change allows them to use their skills more widely and treat more people, both in emergency situations and on non-urgent calls."

For paramedics in Airdrie, these additional tools will be a huge benefit to the outlying areas that they service for emergency calls.

The new regulation also provides more integrated health care delivery as it allows paramedics to collaborate and work directly with nurse practitioners.

"We'll see different levels of practitioners able to use different skills such as medication administration, additional medication's that can be administered," said Darren Sandbeck, Chief Paramedic with Alberta Health Services.

The integration of the new services will be determined once the steering committee is able to implement the additional training that is needed.