In this session, panellists will discuss and challenge aspects of paramedic practice that are ingrained and perpetuated – but not necessarily evidence based.

We seek to challenge well believed and frequently practiced assessments with evidence and motivate ambulance staff to base their practice on up-to-date and well rationalised research.

This session will have you immediately changing your practice and questioning the status quo and will serve as an opportunity to ask further questions to some of the industry’s leading clinicians.

Please see list of resources below.

Presented by: Ryan Parry, Alexander Olaussen, Nick Roder ASM, Cara Alphey and Jake Kilsby

Biographies:

Ryan Parry - Ryan is a Clinical Instructor for Ambulance Victoria and Teaching Associate for Monash University, with international experience in both the public and private sector.

Alexander Olaussen - Alex has been a teaching associate with Monash University’s Department of Paramedicine since 2010 and is currently a Senior Lecturer. He is also a medical doctor working across many Victorian EDs, as well as research fellow with the National Trauma Research Institute (NTRI). Alex has a strong focus on fostering students and junior researchers. His main research lies in haemorrhagic shock and pre-hospital prediction of in-hospital outcomes. He was awarded the Hatem Salem Award for Medical Student Research Excellence for his thesis and the Avant Doctor in training grant for a study on synthetic blood.

Nick Roder ASM - Nick is a MICA Flight Paramedic Educator, with over 30 years experience in healthcare. Nick is very well regarded in the pre-hospital healthcare sector as an educator. Nick has educated countless MICA and MICA Flight paramedics, and has also helped develop retrieval systems in Borneo.

Cara Alphey - Cara is an established MICA Paramedic and Clinical Instructor with Ambulance Victoria, and has a passion for continued education and best patient care. She is a continued education facilitator and is a representative for Ambulance Victoria's Best Care Committee. Cara also works as a postgraduate lecturer and teaching associate for Monash University. Cara holds a Graduate Diploma in Emergency Health.

Jake Kilsby - Jake is a MICA Paramedic and Clinical Instructor with Ambulance Victoria, and is an Royal Australian Engineer Army Reserve Officer at 22nd Engineer Regiment. Jake has an interest in clinical decision-making in high acuity and complex settings and paramedic mindset-growth towards evidence-based practices. Jake is a teaching associate at Monash University and Australian Catholic University. Jake holds a Master of Specialist Paramedic Practice.

Resources:

• A modified Valsalva manoeuvre results in greater termination of supraventricular tachycardia than standard Valsalva manoeuvre
• Volume responsiveness assessed by passive leg raising and a fluid challenge: a critical review focused on mean systemic filling pressure
• The reliability of the Glasgow Coma Scale: a systematic review
• Volume responsiveness assessed by passive leg raising and a fluid challenge: a critical review focused on mean systemic filling pressure
• Respiratory rate: the neglected vital sign
• The normal difference in bilateral indirect blood pressure recordings in normotensive individuals
• Bilateral simultaneous indirect systolic blood pressure measurements
• Bilateral blood pressure differential as a clinical marker for acute aortic dissection in the emergency department
• Accurate respiratory rates count: So should you!
• Explaining transgression in respiratory rate observation methods in the emergency department: A classic grounded theory analysis
• The importance of respiratory rate monitoring
• The diagnostic accuracy of lung auscultation in adult patients with acute pulmonary pathologies: a meta-analysis
• Should the ultrasound probe replace your stethoscope? A SICS-I sub-study comparing lung ultrasound and pulmonary auscultation in the critically ill
• Questioning dogma: does a GCS of 8 require intubation?
• Characterizing the type and location of intracranial abnormalities in mild traumatic brain injury
• GCS 15: when mild TBI isn’t so mild
• Predictive Utility of the Total Glasgow Coma Scale Versus the Motor Component of the Glasgow Coma Scale for Identification of Patients With Serious Traumatic Injuries