David Krygger is a Senior Clinical Educator and Community Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). With a strong commitment to education, mentorship, and the advancement of community paramedicine, David works to improve patient outcomes through innovative care models, evidence-based practice, and knowledge sharing. His passion for developing others and fostering professional growth has made him a valued contributor to both frontline service and the broader paramedicine profession.
Community Paramedicine and integrated healthcare delivery in the Queensland Ambulance Service, Australia
Mr David Krygger1, Dr Robbie King, Mr Robert Azzopardi, MR Matthew Bidgood
1Queensland Ambulance Service, Australia
Abstract
In response to increased workload, evolving community expectations and the inherent complexity of sub-acute and non-urgent patients, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has developed an innovative approach involving Community Paramedics designed to provide enhanced assessment and care to patients prior to, during and after a request for service. This multidisciplinary model includes post-graduate educated Community Paramedics (CP), co-response units with Mental Health Nurses and Occupational Therapists and secondary triage systems staffed by paramedics, Medical Officers, and social workers. Through ongoing collaboration, the model integrates with the wider Queensland health universal healthcare system accessing specific referral pathways that includes community-based and virtual health services across the state.
This session will focus on the transformative approach that integrated care pathways and specialist training of Community Paramedics have had on the diverse Queensland community and delivery of ambulance care. We will discuss the minimum post-graduate qualifications required of our Community Paramedics, the day-to-day clinical role of these specialists; the muti-disciplinary QAS Clinical Hub secondary triage and telehealth service as well as the Mental Health and Falls Co-Responder model.