Attraction and retention of ambulance paramedics in British Columbia
Date
2026
Authors
Matick, Stephen
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Abstract
Acting as the primary responders within provincial ambulance services, adequate staffing of Paramedics is key to the overall functioning of most Canadian emergency medical systems. However, most of the workforce-related research on this important occupational group is based on ambulance services outside of Canada. Studies which focus on the workplace factors affecting the attraction and retention of ambulance personnel within the Canadian context are limited. This is problematic, as there is a wide variance in the structures of emergency medical response frameworks across different jurisdictions; even across Canadian provinces. Additional information on the context-specific factors which influence the attraction and retention of Canadian paramedics would likely prove useful to policy makers and health authorities in B.C. Other Canadian jurisdictions may also benefit from additional validated research constructs to inform cross-provincial comparisons of ambulance structures.
To this end, this exploratory study utilized a semi-structured, one-on-one interview format to acquire qualitative data on the subjective workplace experiences of working ambulance paramedics in B.C. In addition to providing practical data on the workplace dynamics of Paramedics in B.C., the study attempted to illustrate a set of theoretical concepts potentially useful for future studies involving ambulance paramedics in the provincial context. A conceptual framework drawn from previous literature was used to inform the interview questions. A convenience sample of 12 Paramedics were asked to discuss the factors which most influenced their decision to enter the profession, as well as the workplace factors they felt most influenced retention. Respondents were also asked if they had recommendations towards improving their working experiences.
Interview data was organized into themes. ‘Attractant’ themes were grouped by question intent while retention and improvement-related themes were organized into groups aligning with the concept-categories outlined within the conceptual framework. 3-5 themes arose within each attractant group and conceptual framework. These themes were then analyzed and discussed within the wider academic and environmental context. Respondent recommendations for improvement were also discussed in the course of this wider analysis.
The analysis conducted under this study outlined 10 potential areas of future research within the field of Paramedic attraction and retention. 12 recommendations potentially of use for improving the retention of ambulance personnel in B.C. were synthesized from both the explicit recommendations of respondents, as well as the content of the emergent themes. While the conceptual framework utilized within the study requires further validation, the results of this study may nonetheless be useful for both policy makers looking to improve the stability of the provincial ambulance workforce and researchers looking to add to the literature on Canadian Paramedics.
Description
Keywords
Paramedic, Ambulance, EMS, Attraction, Retention