Current Research

BCEHS is committed to high-quality, integrated health care. We actively support research to improve paramedic care.

​We take part in many research and quality improvement projects across all areas of pre-hospital care, including:

  • Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
  • Stroke
  • Trauma
  • Palliative care
  • Pediatric and neonatal care
  • Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECMO)
  • Paramedic and crew resource management
  • Airway management
  • Flight and critical care
  • Clinical pathways ('Treat and Refer')
  • Community paramedicine
  • STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) and acute coronary syndrome

BCEHS paramedics contribute to research as both authors and collaborators. Below are selected published studies.

Selected publications

  1. Marshall, R. A., Luchkanych, A. M. S., Morton, J. S., Boyes, N. G., Zhai, A., Marciniuk, D. D., et al. (2022). Cerebral haemodynamics during arrhythmia. The Journal of Physiology.
  2. Spelten, E., van Vuuren, J., O’Meara, P.  et al. (2022).           Workplace violence against emergency health care workers. BMC Emergency Medicine.
  3. Armour, R., Helmer, J., Tallon, J. (2022). Paramedic-delivered teleconsultations: a grounded theory study. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine.
  4. Grunau, B., Golding, L., Prusinkiewicz, M. A., Asamoah-Boaheng, M., Armour, R., Citali Marquez, A. (2022). Antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccination. Microbiology Spectrum.
  5. Makrides, T., Ross, L., Gosling, C., Acker, J., O’Meara, P. (2022). History of the Anglo-American paramedic system. Australasian Emergency Care.
  6. Makrides, T., Ross, L., Gosling, C., Acker, J., O'Meara, P. (2021). Structure of paramedic systems in developed countries. International Journal of Emergency Services.
  7. Yap, J., Haines, M., Nowroozpoor, A., Armour, R., Luongo, A., Sidhu, G., et al. (2021). Withholding resuscitation in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation.
  8. Guy, A., Gabers, A., Crisfield, C., Helmer, J., Peterson, S. C., Ganstal, A., et al. (2021). CHAMP: Improving STEMI care in British Columbia. BMJ Open Quality. 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2021-001519
  9. Grunau, B., Asamoah-Boaheng, M., Lavoie, P. M., Karim, M. E., Kirkham, T. L., Demers, P. A., et al. (2021). A higher antibody response with delayed SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosing interval, Clinical Infectious Diseases.
  10. Armour, R., Helmer, J., Roberts, L., Lee, S., Wall, N. & Deakin, J. (2021). Cardiac Arrest Annual Report 2019/2020: Towards improving resuscitation outcomes.
  11. Armour, R., Helmer, J., et al. (2021). Paramedic-delivered teleconsultations: A scoping review. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 18.
  12. Grunau, B., Helmer, J., Lee, S., Acker, J., Deakin, J., Armour, R., et al. (2021). Decrease in EMS use during early COVID-19. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine.
  13. Helmer, J., Baranowski, L., Armour, R., Tallon, J., Williscroft, D. & Brittain, M. (2021): A paramedic approach to palliative emergencies. Progress in Palliative Care.
  14. Wong, D., Su, D., Mabasa, V., Tallon, J., Acker, J., Wan, W. & Jenneson, S. (2021). Tranexamic acid use in trauma (ACUTE). CJEM. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43678-020-00040-4
  15. Rowell, S., Tallon, J., Schlamp, R., et al. (2020). Tranexamic acid for traumatic brain injury. JAMA. 324(10), 961-974.
  16. Grunau, B., Bal., J., Scheuermeyer, F., Guh, D., Dainty, K., Helmer, J., et al. (2020). Bystander willingness to perform CPR during COVID-19. Resuscitation Plus, 4.
  17. Sinden, S., Heidet, M., Scheuermeyer, F., Kawano, T., Helmer, J., Christenson, J. & Grunau, B. (2020). Scene delays and cardiac arrest outcomes. Resuscitation  155, 211-218.
  18. Olsen, O., Greene, A., Makrides, T., Delport, A. (2020). Air medical operations during COVID-19 in British Columbia. Air Medical Journal.
  19. Heidet, M., Fraticelli, L., Grunau, B., Cheskes, B., Baert, J., Vilhelm, C., et al. (2020). ReACanROC: France-Canada cardiac arrest research network. Resuscitation Journal, 152, 133-140.
  20. Armour, R. Helmer, J. & Deakin, J. (2020). Paramedic intubation during a pandemic: Where are the consensus guidelines?Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 17.
  21. Helmer, J., Acker, J., Deakin, J. & Johnston, T. (2020). Intramuscular ketamine for agitation: A quality improvement study. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 17.
  22. Makrides, T. (2020). Anglo-American paramedic systems: A scoping review protocol. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 17.
  23. Baranowski, L., & Armour, R. (2020). Do non-rotational ambulance placements affect the development of paramedic competencies? Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 17.
  24. Brittain, M., Michel, C., Baranowski, L., Armour, R., Helmer, J., & Poll, A. (2020). Community paramedicine in British Columbia: A virtual response to COVID-19. Australasian Journal of Paramedicine, 17.
  25. Tallon, J., Zheng, L., Wei, J., Dick, W., Papadopoulos, G., & Djurdjev, O. (2020). EMS resource allocation and mortality. Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine, 22(1), 86- 94.
  26. Armour, R., & Baranowski, L. (2020). Esmolol for the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Irish Journal of Paramedicine, 4(2).​​