Ms Jacqueline Hennessy1, Mr Apollos Tago1
1St John PNG, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
St. John Ambulance PNG has embarked on sending 8 of its operational staff and managers to observe the Ambulance Operations in Western Australia and Queensland primarily to identify the similarities and difference in the State Operation Centre, pre-hospital care and improving patient transfer from ambulance to emergency department. We have identified key interventions which we believe will improve the work force structure of ambulance service across PNG.
Methods: In four groups of two, officers spent 3-4 weeks imbedded within the different teams within both services.
Results: We have identified multiple differences taking into consideration the population density of the Australian cities and more strategically, the skills involve in transporting the diverse patients. We note a significant portion of cases attended to were medical in nature, compared to PNG, where we have variety of cases ranging from trauma, obstetric (labour) and medical. We have also note there is proper coordination between the ambulance, the Police and the Hospitals. The hospitals have a portal that is linked to the EPCR which the crew members used to access patient information prior to the ambulance arriving at the hospitals. In PNG, there is a lack of proper coordination between the services.
Conclusions: Team building between public hospitals, emergency services and up skilling Ambulance Officers within BLS should be of a primary focus to improve prehospital care in PNG.
Biography:
Biography to come