Seamless synergy: Advancing paramedicine integration in healthcare

This conference serves as a platform for delegates to enhance their skills and contribute to the evolving landscape of primary care through valuable insights, thought-provoking presenters, and collaborative discussions

University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay Campus, Tasmania

16 & 17 May 2024

Join us in Sandy Bay Hobart, where we aim to cultivate a collaborative mindset that aligns with the evolving landscape of primary care in Australasia.

Download the PDF program

Thursday 16 May 2024
Friday 17 May 2024

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Time (AEST)	(Please note: This schedule is subject to change).
08:30 - 08:45	Welcome Welcome Welcome to Country and mihi whakatau
08:45 - 09:00	Conference Open
09:00 - 10:00	Opening Keynote Presentation Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, National Rural Health Commissioner, Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner
10:00 - 10:20	Cygnet Family Practice Urgent and After-Hours Service Cygnet Family Practice Urgent and After-Hours Service It's never been more difficult to same day appointments in general practice. In some areas in Tasmania, people are waiting 6 weeks to see a doctor. No everyone needs to see a doctor. Health care reform is needed with people seeing the right person for the right reason at the right time. The Cygnet Family Practice Innovative Nurse Practitioner and Community Paramedic model of care has been operational for the past 12 months. The service has seen over 1400 people with a variety of minor illnesses and injuries. 99% of the time, their needs have been met with the skills, knowledge and education of this team. This session will share how this model works, show patient satisfaction feedback and how this model can be replicated in other rural areas nationwide. Kerrie Duggan, Nurse Practitioner and Co-Owner Cygnet Family Practice Ali Spicer, Community Paramedic (CP)/ Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Project Development, Cygnet Family Practice, Paramedic, Ambulance Tasmania, NP, Emergency, RACF and Primary Care
10:20 - 10:45	Morning Tea
10:45 - 12:45	Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders Assessment is the fundamental first step in any musculoskeletal rehabilitation journey. In order to treat injury effectively and efficiently, you need to successfully diagnose the condition. The assessment is the vital key as it identifies the root cause and guides the treatment required Jordan van der Westhuizen, Managing Director of Perth Injury & Pain Clinic, Soft Tissue Occupational Therapist, Certified McGill Method Practitioner and Strength & Conditioning Coach	Workshop 2 - Acute Wound Care Workshop 2 - Acute Wound Care This session will run you through: the principles of holistic wound healing, the different methods of wound closure for simple wounds, and some more advanced suturing techniques for the complex wound. You will explore the basics of preparing a wound for closure, closure techniques and material selection, dressing selection and post closure care. You will be introduced to some advanced techniques including abscess management, and advanced suturing techniques for complex wounds. With the emergence of paramedic care in the primary care, more advanced techniques will be employed in the management of wounds. This workshop will provide a solid foundation for basic wound closure techniques as well as an opportunity to advance your skills. Mel Alexander, Extended Care Paramedic, SA Ambulance/Paramedic Practitioner
12:45 - 13:35	Lunch
13:35 - 15:35	Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders Assessment is the fundamental first step in any musculoskeletal rehabilitation journey. In order to treat injury effectively and efficiently, you need to successfully diagnose the condition. The assessment is the vital key as it identifies the root cause and guides the treatment required Jordan van der Westhuizen, Managing Director of Perth Injury & Pain Clinic, Soft Tissue Occupational Therapist, Certified McGill Method Practitioner and Strength & Conditioning Coach.	Workshop 2: Acute Wound Care Workshop 2: Acute Wound Care This session will run you through: the principles of holistic wound healing, the different methods of wound closure for simple wounds, and some more advanced suturing techniques for the complex wound. You will explore the basics of preparing a wound for closure, closure techniques and material selection, dressing selection and post closure care. You will be introduced to some advanced techniques including abscess management, and advanced suturing techniques for complex wounds. With the emergence of paramedic care in the primary care, more advanced techniques will be employed in the management of wounds. This workshop will provide a solid foundation for basic wound closure techniques as well as an opportunity to advance your skills. Mel Alexander, Extended Care Paramedic, SA Ambulance/Paramedic Practitioner
15:35 - 15:55	Afternoon Tea
15:55 - 16:55	Panel Discussion: Where we came from, where we are now and where we are heading? Dr Louise Reynolds, Associate Professor in Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University and Chief Paramedic Officer, Safer Care Victoria Dr Peter O’Meara, Adjunct Professor, Monash University & Charles Sturt University. Board Member, The Paramedic Network and the American Paramedic Association. Dr Angela Martin PhD, Manager Clinical Practice- Integrated Care, Ambulance Tasmania Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, National Rural Health Commissioner, Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner
16:55 - 17:00	Day 1 Close
17:00 - 19:00	Conference Social Event – Drinks & Canapes (face to face ticket holders only)

Click the session title to view session overviews

Time (AEST)	(Please note: This schedule is subject to change).
08:30 - 08:35	Day 2 Open
08:35 - 09:05	Spot the red flags, children are not miniature adults! Spot the red flags, children are not miniature adults! This session aims to provide the basis of a thorough paediatric patient assessment, considerations in undertaking a thorough assessment and common mistakes and/or red flags to remember Dr Alaa’n Ibrahim, Senior Staff Specialist, Paediatric and Adult Emergency Specialist, Director and founder of Paediatric Emergency Medicine Courses (PEM Courses) and Emergency Medicine Courses (EM Courses)
09:05 - 09:35	Paediatric primary care - Care of the child with fever Paediatric primary care - Care of the child with fever This session will address "the worried parent" - presentation of the paediatric patient to the urgent care/primary care. Mel will discuss the difference in assessment between emergency and urgent/primary care settings, the importance of context and explore cases of the worries parent of children presenting with fever. Mel Alexander, Extended Care Paramedic, SA Ambulance/Paramedic Practitioner
09:35 - 10:05	Paediatric Panel Discussion Dr Alaa’n Ibrahim, Senior Staff Specialist, Paediatric and Adult Emergency Specialist, Director and founder of Paediatric Emergency Medicine Courses (PEM Courses) and Emergency Medicine Courses (EM Courses) Mel Alexander, Extended Care Paramedic, SA Ambulance/Paramedic Practitioner
10:05 - 10:30	Morning Tea
10:30 - 11:00	Navigating frailty: Challenges and considerations in pre-hospital care Navigating frailty: Challenges and considerations in pre-hospital care Rebecca will discuss what frailty is, what scoring systems are available to screen for frailty and where and how these are being used. She will also talk about the current evidence base in the pre-hospital setting for frailty screening and options into the future. Dr. Rebecca Heath, FACEM at Royal Hobart Hospital
11:00 - 11:30	Paramedic care at the end of life: Underprepared & underappreciated? Paramedic care at the end of life: Underprepared & underappreciated? Paramedics are often associated with the skills, knowledge and equipment to restore life. However, resuscitation is only effective where a cardiac arrest has occurred both recently and from a reversible cause. Ambulances attend around 15% of all deaths in Australia and New Zealand. Although a wealth of paramedic education, research and clinical guidance is focused on resuscitation, little attention is given to termination of resuscitation, breaking bad news and caring for the bereaved. Everybody dies, and most of us are likely to experience many bereavements. So why does the paramedic role in end-of-life and bereavement care receive so little attention? And what is being done to improve the quality of paramedic care in the event of a death? Dr Natalie Anderson, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland and Staff Nurse, Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department
11:30 -12:00	Integrated out-of-hospital palliative care Integrated out-of-hospital palliative care Andrew will outline the very successful model of integrated in-home palliative care emergency management which the SA Ambulance Extended Care Paramedic team have established over the last 14 years. This will include a case study and time for questions. Andrew Noble, Extended Care Paramedic (ECP) Clinical Team Leader and ECP Education coordinator – SA Ambulance Service
12:00 - 12:30	Panel Discussion - Palliative Care & Geriatric Presenters Dr Natalie Anderson, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland and Staff Nurse, Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department Dr. Rebecca Heath, FACEM at Royal Hobart Hospital Andrew Noble, Extended Care Paramedic (ECP) Clinical Team Leader and ECP Education coordinator – SA Ambulance Service
12:30 - 13:30	Lunch
13:30 - 14:30	Australian Remote and Indigenous Health: Through the lens of an Aboriginal Health Practitioner (AHP) Jenifer Hampton, Director of Aboriginal Health Practitioners (Strategic Workforce), Primary and Public Health Care (PPHC). Central Australian Health Service (CAHS)
14:00 - 14:30	Exploring the challenges and opportunities for community paramedicine in rural Aotearoa New Zealand Exploring the challenges and opportunities for community paramedicine in rural Aotearoa New Zealand This presentation will explore the challenges for those who live in rural/remote regions, whānau (families) experiences, purakau (stories) and the affects. While also exploring the opportunities for community paramedicine and the need to continue enhancing services utilising a tikanga Māori approach. This is crucial in achieving equity for Māori and improving health outcomes to all whānau (families) across Aotearoa/NZ "Kua tawhiti kē tō haerenga mai kia kore e haere tonu. He nui rawa ō mahi kia kore e mahi tonu." “You have come too far not to go further; you have done too much not to do more.” Ta Hemi Hēnare (Sir James Hēnare) Aroha (Michelle) Brett CStJ, Dip S&CW, Dip AP, Māori Health & Equity Lead – Clinical Services, Hato Hone St John
14:30 - 15:30	What’s happening internationally in this space? What’s happening internationally in this space? In this session we hear from experienced clinicians who have worked around the world in the area of Primary Care. Presenters will speak for 5 minutes each, followed by a panel discussion. Fraser Watson, ECP Clinical Lead, Hato Hone St John New Zealand Paul J Reeves, Principal Advisor Pre-Hospital Care, Commissioning and System Improvement, NT Health Jen Bolster, PhD (S), BPara(Hons), ICP, Director of Clinical Services, Ambulance Tasmania Dr Brendan Shannon, Head of Postgraduate Programs Department of Paramedicine, Monash
15:30 - 15:55	Afternoon Tea
15:55 - 16:40	Closing Keynote: Superheroes v Supervillains: The battle between perception, professionalism & progressive paramedicine Closing Keynote: Superheroes v Supervillains: The battle between perception, professionalism & progressive paramedicine Is it a bird…is it a plane…no it’s ‘Community Paramedic’, healthcare hero of the future. Join Dr Angela Martin PhD, on a journey into the unknown as we navigate a galaxy of meteors, superheroes, supervillains and kryptonite in a battle to progress paramedicine as an integrated health discipline Dr Angela Martin PhD, Manager Clinical Practice- Integrated Care, Ambulance Tasmania
16:40 - 16:50	Conference Close

Seamless synergy: Advancing paramedicine integration in healthcare

This conference serves as a platform for delegates to enhance their skills and contribute to the evolving landscape of primary care through valuable insights, thought-provoking presenters, and collaborative discussions

Welcome

Cygnet Family Practice Urgent and After-Hours Service

Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders

Workshop 2 - Acute Wound Care

Workshop 1: Putting Theory into Practice: How to Competently Assess Low Back and Shoulder Musculoskeletal Disorders

Workshop 2: Acute Wound Care

Spot the red flags, children are not miniature adults!

Paediatric primary care - Care of the child with fever

Navigating frailty: Challenges and considerations in pre-hospital care

Paramedic care at the end of life: Underprepared & underappreciated?

Integrated out-of-hospital palliative care

Exploring the challenges and opportunities for community paramedicine in rural Aotearoa New Zealand

What’s happening internationally in this space?

Closing Keynote: Superheroes v Supervillains: The battle between perception, professionalism & progressive paramedicine