PATIENT-PARAMEDIC TRUST CAN HELP FREE UP EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
Dr Robbie King,
Senior Advanced Care Paramedic/Community Paramedic,
Sunshine Coast District, Birtinya Station, Queensland Ambulance Service &
Lecturer & Researcher (Paramedicine), Australian Catholic University (ACU)
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Brisbane, Queensland | December 2024
Dr. Robbie King is a Senior Advanced Care Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service and a community paramedic. He is also a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. After studying paramedicine and working as a student paramedic since 2009, he recognised that most patients attended by ambulance services did not require emergency interventions.
About a decade ago, Queensland Ambulance implemented the Local Area Assessment and Referral Unit, a community paramedic program. In his role at Queensland Ambulance Service, Dr. King has spent the past six years focusing on patients who may not need traditional emergency responses. His work involves performing enhanced assessments to understand patients’ psychosocial needs and determining appropriate healthcare pathways.
Dr. King’s PhD research consisted of quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative study analysed data from 1.5 million people who contacted New South Wales Ambulance Service, revealing that 12.6% were not transported to emergency departments. Notably, around 43% received emergency responses, yet many were found simply in need of reassurance.
The qualitative study involved interviews with 21 subjects from various regions, leading to the development of a theory centred on self-efficacy. The findings indicated that patients often experienced a loss of independence but gained self-reliance and confidence through compassionate, competent care from paramedics, allowing them to better manage their circumstances after the paramedics left.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Robbie King earlier this year on his findings and what it could mean for paramedicine policy, education and practice.
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Integrated oral health care in midwifery practice
There is limited emphasis being placed on perinatal oral health by prenatal care providers in Australia. Pregnant women have no system in place that can offer them regular oral assessment during pregnancy and prompt dental treatment at minimal or no cost as experienced in other countries. To address the oral health needs of pregnant women, a unique midwifery initiated oral health (MIOH) model was developed to promote and maintain maternal oral health.
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Care workforce challenges
In a wide ranging report looking at the carer needs across Australia, PwC Australia published Reimagine Care Workforce Solutions in October 2022.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Kerryn Dillon, Director Ageing and Reablement and Health Workforce at PwC Australia about the community care sectors of aged care, disability care and childcare the report covers.
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Representing the profession that impacts individual lives and communities
Michelle Oliver is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with nearly two decades of leadership and clinical expertise across the mental health, homelessness, and disability sectors. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia and is a registered practitioner with AHPRA.
