David Buckle holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration and is the Regional Director of Paramedicine & Medical Transport and Chief of EMS at Western Health in Corner Brook NL. He has worked 25 years as a leader in paramedicine and is an active surveyor with Accreditation Canada.
David is a paramedic instructor and student preceptor. He is ACLS certified and an International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Instructor. He has 15 years’ experience working on ambulances and in emergency departments. He is a former Chief Medic in the Oil and Gas Industry, former Director of Emergency Services for the Canada Winter Games and he’s provided medical training & onsite medical care for numerous International World Triathlons and other large scale sporting events. David has experience in flight medicine and is a former manager of the provincial air ambulance program.
David has a keen interest in workflow analysis and system design. He is a former Emergency Health Services Analyst for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador where he led the development and implementation of the provincial Emergency Health Information System (EHIS).
In 2005, David designed and implemented a quality assurance and medical oversight program for regional ambulance services in Western Newfoundland. In 2009, he designed and implemented a computer based Ambulance Dispatch and Management System for Western Health. He also developed and implemented Care Needs Assessment guidelines for inter-facility patient transport to ensure appropriate utilization of RN/Paramedic on ambulances. He currently chairs the Regional Pre-hospital/Emergency Department Acute Stroke Committee and participates on numerous other regional committees such a Telehealth, Emergency Department Access, LEADS, Primary Health Care, Operations Working Group, Paramedic Advisory Committee, etc.
Throughout his career, David has received awards and recognition for Outstanding Dedication to Duty, Commanding Officer’s Commendation, Governor General Meritorious Certificate– Priory of the Order of Canada, Duke of Edinburgh Award-Lifesaving Medal and more recently, award of Excellence for Innovative Treatment Technology by the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada. In 2011 and 2013, he worked at an orphanage in Haiti performing cholera vaccinations and other humanitarian relief assistance.