Paramedics in Australia

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A paramedic, is a highly trained health care professional who responds to and treats all types of medical and trauma emergencies outside of a hospital setting before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility. Paramedics also work in the inter-facility transport environment where a paramedic will continue or upgrade medical care to a higher level while transporting a patient from one healthcare facility to another. Paramedics usually transport patients to a hospital based emergency department, but paramedics can treat patients out of the hospital setting and then not transport the patient to the hospital (i.e. a paramedic gives a diabetic patient 50% dextrose in water).

In Australia use of the term paramedic is not restricted or licensed. Prior to the 1990s most paramedics were known as ambulance officers.

Contents

[edit] Clinical Scope of Practice & Qualifications

[edit] Patient Transport Officer

Patient Transport Officers, or Ambulance Transport Officers, provide non-emergency patient transport. PTOs provide a pre-booked, non-urgent service that includes home to hospital and hospital to hospital transfers. In some states PTO's may occasionally be required to act as first responders to emergencies. This is usually limited to situations where it would take significantly longer for Paramedics to arrive at the scene than a nearby patient transport crew.

Patient Transport Officers complete a course of training that will earn them a nationally recognised Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport.

[edit] Ambulance Officer/Ambulance Paramedic

This is the basic level of pre-hospital emergency care. These Paramedics hold a Certificate IV in Basic Emergency Care, or equivalent, and are trained in basic life support skills.

[edit] Advanced Care Paramedic

Advanced Care Paramedics are trained to a higher level then standard paramedics. In many states this is now the base-level paramedic qualification earned at the completion of Student Paramedic training.

Training includes advanced techniques and the administration of certain types of drugs and medications. Training is to the standard of Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or equivalent, although some universities now offer Bachelor degrees in paramedics.

Some skills Advanced Care Paramedics possess include basic-level CPR, first aid, airway management, oxygen administration, spinal immobilisation, traction splinting, bleeding control and splinting, as well as the intermediate skills of IV therapy, advanced airway management and initial cardiac drug therapy, the paramedic is also educated in ECG interpretation, advanced respiratory support and airway skills including pharmacology, trauma resuscitation and paediatric life support.

[edit] Intensive Care Paramedic

Intensive Care Paramedics have further training and skills including intubation, surgical airways and advanced cardiac life support.

Training involves the completion of a Advanced Diploma of Health Science or Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedical Practice, or equivalent qualifications.

[edit] Rescue Paramedic

Some ambulance services employ paramedics specially trained in rescue techniques. Officers are trained in areas such as road crash rescue, vertical rescue, confined space and trench rescue. They learn navigation skills, four wheel driving, urban search and rescue, and chemical biological and radiological procedures.

[edit] Flight Paramedic

[edit] Training

[edit] Employment

Paramedics are employed by various public and private service providers. The state run ambulance services are activated by the 000 (similar to 911 in the USA or 112 in europe). Paramedics may respond to medical incidents in an ambulance, rescue vehicle, helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, motorcycle or even bicycle at large public gatherings.

There are also private transport ambulances which provide Patient Transport Officers and related services.

In Australia paramedic salaries can range anywhere from unpaid volunteer positions to over $100,000 a year, depending on location, experience, supervisory responsibilities and overtime.

[edit] Professional Organisations

The Australian College of Ambulance Professionals is the professional organisation for ambulance paramedics. Note that industrial representation varies from state to state.

[edit] References

  • Recruitment, Queensland Ambulance Service, June 23, 2006
  • Clinical Practice Manual, Queensland Ambulance Service, 2001

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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