Training paramedics to provide home-based palliative care lets severely ill patients remain at home and takes pressure off emergency departments and the health system.
Timely stroke treatment can limit brain damage and improve outcomes for patients. But this depends on early recognition of the symptoms, which is not always easy.
Research on both sides of the globe shows that unmanageable workloads is the main reason why many ambulance service staff are considering quitting the profession.
A new review of Australian health care workers’ scope of practice should focus on expanding pharmacists prescribing for stable conditions and long-term medications, under the direction of a GP.
Ambulance response times have not always met targets, but the alarming new pinch point in our health-care system is that there are no ambulances at all available to respond to calls.
With more than half a million notifications of suspected child maltreatment each year in Australia, we need to explore the better use of our health-care workforces to prevent maltreatment.
Ambulance services are facing unfair criticism for a situation which is not of their making. The workforce is in crisis, with system-wide pressures seriously hampering their ability to do their jobs.
The future of our health system depends on recruiting and retaining passionate and highly skilled health-care workers. It’s essential to build work environments where they feel supported and safe.
Hospitals are struggling, with ambulances ramping outside emergency departments and patients facing long waits for care. But doing more of the same won’t fix the problem.
New research shows overworked, sleep-deprived health-care professionals are less empathetic to their patient’s needs compared to when they are well-rested.
Long lines of ambulances have hit the headlines in recent weeks. But ‘ramping’ isn’t a new problem for patients or paramedics. COVID means we must fix it now.
Proposals in NSW to force someone who spits at or bites a frontline worker to be tested for HIV and other blood-borne viruses are a real problem - for workers and the public.
Immediate CPR and defibrillation can be key to surviving a cardiac arrest. A smartphone app is mobilising community responders who can help before emergency services arrive.
Security guards won’t protect paramedics and community nurses from violent patients. And in hospital, some security guards can unwittingly escalate violence, unless they’re specially trained.
Paramedics face traumatic situations every day. They need policies to ensure support is provided in the immediate aftermath of trauma, and early access to mental health care.
Given the persistent risk of terrorist attacks and large-scale accidents, it’s more critical than ever for EMTs, police, firefighters and others to learn from the past.
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences., University of Melbourne; HIV Clinical Nurse Consultant with Bolton Clarke, Board Member Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), The University of Melbourne
Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Director of the Acute Care Research Unit, Affiliated Adjunct and Natural Scientist, RAND Corporation, University of Michigan