The purpose of this policy is to provide details of the processes and standards which must be achieved by Paramedics who wish to advance through the various Advanced Care levels within St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc.; and to provide guidelines for the use of advanced care skills. Scope
This policy applies to Paramedics of all levels operating throughout the Northern Territory. Responsibilities Responsibility for amending this policy rests with the Operational Management Group and The Chief Executive Officer or their delegate. In consultation with the Paramedic training College (PTC) and Senior Medical Advisor or their delegate. Process St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. incorporates both Basic Life Support and level one of its Advanced Care regimes in the Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) (HLT50402) completed by all Ambulance Paramedics. St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc
Progression through the various levels is contingent on all requirements for the preceding levels having been met. Supervised Ambulance Paramedics
1. Following the successful completion of the Clinical 2 (HLTAMBCR2A)
residential component student Paramedics will be authorised to practice advanced care skills under the direct supervision of a qualified Ambulance Paramedic or Intensive Care Paramedic, authorised as St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc.
2. Student Paramedics practicing advanced care skill under supervision
are required to complete a course logbook and a portfolio detailing all skills utilised. Logbooks and portfolios are to be carried in the ambulance while on shift, Officers presenting without these documents will not be permitted to perform Advanced Care Skills.
3. Logbooks and portfolios will be issued at the successful completion of
the Clinical 2 residential component and must be completed no later than six (6) months from that date. Officers who believe their logbooks will not be completed within the allocated time should apply to the PTC for an extension.
4. A minimum of 20 portfolio entries of a variety of cases with contents of
relevance been approved by PTC / DOM is required prior to elevation to unsupervised level.
5. Supervised Paramedics should be afforded optimum exposure to
situations requiring Advanced Care intervention, without causing unnecessary delays in transport.
6. During the supervisory period the Student Paramedic should be closely
monitored for technique, timeliness of management procedures, understanding of anatomical and physiological processes; and should display an attitude toward their patients, fellow Officers and others, appropriate to the clinical seniority of the position.
Elevation to Ambulance Paramedic Unsupervised Level
1. Prior to a Student Paramedic Officer being elevated to Qualified
Ambulance Paramedic, all elements of the Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) (HLT50402) must be met, including:
2. Clinical 2 (HLTAMBCR2A) with a minimum aggregate score of 80%.
a. Following successful completion of all components of the
Diploma, Student Paramedics will be assessed with a Viva Voce;
b. When all of the criteria listed above have been satisfied, a report
on the Viva, Paramedic Portfolio and course logbooks will be forwarded to the Senior Medical Advisor for his consideration;
c. If the Senior Medical Advisor is satisfied the work presented is of
suitable standard he will sign an Authority to Practice and return the documents to PTC;
d. Upon receipt of the Authority to Practice, the Paramedic Training
College will advise the student Officer, Personnel Department and the relevant Operations Manager of the student’s elevation to Qualified Ambulance Paramedic.
Advanced Care Directives
1. Student Paramedics must at all times be fully aware of who is and who
is not authorised to provide them with supervision.
2. No officer will delay transport waiting for a more qualified crew for the
3. At no time is a patient’s condition to be compromised in any way to
allow a Student Paramedic to attend and/or manage the case.
4. At no time is a patient to receive any form of treatment that could
reasonably be considered as being unwarranted simply to allow a Student Paramedic to initiate Advanced Care Skills.
5. At no time may a Student Paramedic initiate any procedure or protocol
that is outside the scope of authority for that officer, whether supervised or not.
6. Under no circumstances will any officer practice advanced care skills
unsupervised without express approval of the Senior Medical Advisor.
7. Advanced Care Skills will not generally be initiated within five (5)
minutes of definitive medical care. Transport must not be
unnecessarily delayed in order to initiate advanced skills (refer to the principles of pre-hospital care, Patient Management Procedures pages 1-3).
Note: Failure on the part of the Student Paramedic or supervising Officer to comply with these directives will be reported on RiskMan Any circumstance where reasonable evidence is proven to exist that failure to comply may have occurred will be referred to the Senior Medical Advisor for consideration.
Interstate or International Officers - Road
Prior to appointing Officers who were trained interstate or internationally, detailed evidence of qualifications including certificates, current protocols and procedures applied and any other relevant training information will be forwarded to the Director, Training and Education services for evaluation. 1. The Director, Training and Education Services (his/her delegate) will
assess the applicant’s clinical level against training applied within St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc. and provide a recommendation to the Operations Managers including but not limited to:
a. The level at which the applicant should commence if employed
by St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc;
b. Learning path to overcome any deficiencies in current training.
2. If St John Ambulance Australia (NT) Inc., subsequently employs the
applicant the Operations Manager (or his/her delegate) for that region will coordinate a practical skill assessment. Such an assessment will encompass skills and associated protocols including but not limited to:
a. Semi-automatic cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; b. Intramuscular injection techniques and appropriate drug
c. Pulse oximetry; d. Fracture management; e. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; f. Application of the Kendrick Extrication Device and Cervical
3. When assessment of basic skills is completed, the Operations Manager
will arrange for the Officer to undertake a challenge exam at the level recommended by the Manager, Training and Education Services.
4. Following successful completion of the examination the Officer will be
authorised to apply Advanced Care Patient Care and Drug Protocols identified in the appropriate Protocol Manual under direct supervision of
a Workplace Assessor trained to the appropriate level and approved by the Operations Manager (or their delegate).
5. Generally the supervised period will be at least three (3) months, during
which time the Officer will complete a Paramedic Portfolio detailing patient care skills and drug protocols applied.
6. At the successful completion of any learning contract applied and the
pre-determined supervisory period, the Operations Manager (or their delegate) will arrange for the Officer to undergo a Viva Voce assessment at the appropriate Paramedic level.
7. Following the Viva Voce, the Paramedic Portfolio and a Viva report will
be forwarded to the Senior Medical Advisor for evaluation.
8. If the Senior Medical Advisor is satisfied the Officer under consideration
has displayed a suitable standard of performance expected of Paramedics at that level, he will sign an Authority to Practice and return it with the portfolio to the Paramedic Training College.
9. Upon receipt of the Authority to Practice, the Paramedic Training
College will advise the Officer, Personnel Department and the relevant Operations Manager of the Officer’s elevation to the appropriate Paramedic level.
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