Miss Kym Murphy1
1Queensland Ambulance Service, Kedron, Australia
Biography:
Kym is an occupational therapist who has led the development of the QAS Falls Co-Response Program. She is the Statewide Program Coordinator for the Falls Co-Response Program. Her leadership has supported clearer patient pathways and coordinated responses for people at risk of falls.
Abstract:
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Falls Co-Response Program (Falls CoRe) started as a pilot initiative in the Brisbane metropolitan region in response to increasing incident demand for older adults who had experienced a fall. In partnership with the local Health Service, the QAS Falls CoRe partners a paramedic with an allied health clinician to provide multidisciplinary clinical assessment and health navigation for fall incidents received via Triple Zero (000). These units are equipped with lifting devices to assist people up from the ground.
The majority of falls occur in older adults as a result of a slip, trip or stumble within the home environment. Incidents for a fall are the third highest call cohort received by the QAS, with two-thirds for people aged 65 years and older. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, falls are estimated to cost the health system over $5 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.
Early success of the QAS Falls Co-Response Program was demonstrated by reduced time to scene, reduced conveyance to hospital and improved referral rates to link people to longitudinal care. These outcomes continue to be realised across the state with eight units operating daily across Cairns, Townsville, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane. An allied health clinician is also positioned in the QAS Clinical Hub undertaking clinical review for fall incidents across the state. Further enhancement to extend service hours and bolster the QAS Clinical Hub capability to review fall incidents is planned for 2026-27 financial year.