Rural and remote paramedic program : expanding the scope of paramedic practice / Queensland Ambulance Service and James Cook University, Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health.

Highly commended: 2007 Australian Safer Communities Awards, Community safety focus.

Winner: 2007 Australian Safer Communities Awards, State Award Recipient

James Cook University course outlines -- Student handbook, isolated practice area paramedic -- Courier Mail news article (Paramedic power) -- Rural and remote paramedic practice information booklet --

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Rural and Remote Paramedic Program has been designed to meet the health care needs of people residing in rural, remote and isolated communities across Queensland. The Program?s intent is to expand the scope of clinical practice of rural and remote paramedics to meet the health care needs of targeted communities without losing the benefits of a paramedic?s capacity to respond to emergencies. The curriculum development was a collaborative process involving QAS officers working in conjunction with James Cook University and Queensland Health. The need for the program was identified as a result of research which found rural and remote health workforce shortages, while paramedics tended to be under-utilised in the rural and remote health arena. A survey of Queensland paramedics working in rural and remote areas identified current health needs within their communities, and assessed the capacity and responsiveness of paramedics to undertake training for expanded practice roles. The results of this study informed the design and development of a tertiary-based training curriculum for isolated practice paramedics. The new curriculum aims to enhance and expand paramedic practice in rural and isolated communities to: build on paramedics? examination and diagnostic competencies, gain insight into the public health agenda and community and primary health needs, use prevention as a means of addressing, managing and mitigating illness or injury, building networks and making use of emerging technology, and combining outreach, telemedicine and clinical governance and supervision. The Graduate Certificate program commenced at James Cook University in Queensland in November 2006 and a total of 49 students are currently enrolled and progressing through the program.