The 10-week pilot at Mudgee Hospital will see paramedics working alongside doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals
Paramedics will work alongside emergency department teams as part of an innovative trial that started this week at Mudgee Hospital.
The emergency department will be the first in the state to participate in the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot, in which paramedics will be integrated into the multidisciplinary team within the ED and support existing staff to provide care.
The 10-week trial will see up to three NSW Ambulance paramedics working alongside emergency department doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
During the trial, triage will continue to be performed by a registered nurse in the ED, and hospital staff will inform patients if a paramedic is involved in their care. How a paramedic works with existing ED staff as part of the multidisciplinary team in treatment areas will depend on each patient’s needs.
NSW regional health minister Ryan Park said the trial aimed to demonstrate how paramedics may be able to complement existing workforces in healthcare settings. A second rural health service is expected to join the pilot in the coming weeks.
“Integrating paramedics into emergency departments is something which has been done effectively overseas, and this trial will give us insight into how it could be done in NSW to complement our regional health workforce,” he said.
“Our EDs across NSW are grappling with unprecedented pressure, which is why the NSW government is investing in a range of measures including creating alternative pathways to care, all with the goal of relieving our busy and stretched emergency departments.
“Paramedics will provide additional support by working alongside our dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health teams to provide treatment, and improve access to care.
WNSWLHD chief executive Mark Spittal said patients would know if a paramedic was involved with their care. Hospital staff would let patients know, but NSW Ambulance paramedics involved in the trial would also be in different uniforms to ED staff.
“As a large rural centre, the wide range of presentations we see at Mudgee Hospital will see paramedics utilise their extensive skillsets in the ED setting, within their scope of practice,” he said.
“Clinical procedures have been rigorously reviewed and adjusted for the pilot. We have worked together with NSW Ambulance to investigate how and when paramedics will provide support, to ensure all patients receive appropriate care from appropriate staff.”
Mr Spittal said it was an “exciting opportunity for our award-winning ED team at Mudgee Hospital, and for our Local Health District as a whole”.
“To be selected for this trial reflects our willingness and capability to support innovation which could help regional healthcare settings across NSW in the future,” he said.
Labor Spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence said regional and rural health services faced unique pressures, and the trial was all about exploring innovative solutions.
“This collaborative effort is an important step to see how we can improve access to care for patients in our regional communities,” he said.