International Critical Care Paramedic Symposium 2022

The ICCP 2022 Symposium was held online on the 15th of December 2022, and consisted of presentations from Critical Care Paramedics from multiple international settings. The symposium focused on different models of care and roles undertaken by Critical Care Paramedics.

Aaron Turner: Evolution of CCPs in aotearoa past, present and future

Aaron Turner: Intensive Care Paramedic, St Johns Ambulance, New Zealand 
Critical Care | HAZMAT Paramedic Hato Hone Aotearoa | St John New Zealand

 

With the recent registration of paramedics in Aotearoa, as well as the formalising of the critical care Paramedic (CCP) role, opportunities and scope are increasing. This brief presentation looks to show the evolution of the CCP role in an Aotearoa context while introducing the new model recently adopted and where it may lead next.

Aaron is currently employed as a critical care paramedic by the largest ambulance service in Aotearoa | New Zealand. He works primarily on one of two rapid response units in Otautahi | Christchurch as a single responder servicing an area 12,000 km2. He holds specialised portfolios in Cardiology, Trauma as well as HAZMAT response, and is a contributing member of the Australasian College of Paramedicine. While he has completed his undergraduate, and post graduate study in critical care, he is looking to shortly start his MPhil looking at clinical and professional supervision within the ambulance sector.

Rebirth of rescue helicopter service in New Zealand

Tatsu Kawasaki: Flight Critical Care Paramedic: GCH Aviation,  Christchurch, New Zealand

A short introduction of the health sector reform and challenges we face as a Paramedic-lead multifunctional service.

I have been working as a critical care flight paramedic for the past 7 and half years. I lead POCUS and simulation-based education program.



Complexity of EMS in South Africa

Craig Wylie: CCP Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa has a diverse population with a quadruple burden of disease, which is underpinned by injury and violence. Cape Town is well known for violent gangs. We will be discussing some of the complexity of providing an EMS service in this environment. 

Mr Craig Wylie is an advanced life support paramedic, currently employed as the Director of the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services. During his 20 years in Emergency Medical Services, he has progressed from a Basic Ambulance Assistant to an Emergency Care Practitioner completing his National Diploma EMC, a Bachelor EMC, an Advanced Diploma in Health Care Management, and a Master of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine.  

Mr Wylie has held the position of an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, Division of Emergency Medicine since 2016. He is also currently a board member of the Emergency Care Society of South Africa. 




Challenges faced as a Paramedic in South Africa

Kristen Bent: Flight CCP, South Africa
Acting General Hospital Manager – Netcare N1 City, Netcare Hospital Group

South Africa offers a wide range of experience for a critical care Paramedic, but it comes with its own unique set of challenges:

  • Challenges that are unique to the environment that you are exposed too
  • Skills learnt that one would not be able to learn from a textbook or in class
  • Understanding a multi-faceted approached to critical care


I have been operational in the emergency medical industry for short on 8 years and have experience in road operations, ICU and critical care operations, emergency operational center and critical resource dispatching, HEMS and Fixed Wing operations as well as management. I have a keen interest in healthcare management and recently completed my latest tertiary qualification in law with more to follow.

UKSAR Paramedic practice meeting patient needs during rescue

Edward Griffiths: Advanced Search and Rescue Paramedic, Wales and the South Coast of England 

Edward will be looking at:

  • The evolution of the clinical aspects of the UKSAR Paramedic profession.
  • Meeting the needs of the patient.
  • Future developments

 

After reading a BSc in Mechanical Engineering I joined the Royal Air Force in 2003. I served for 12 years as a SAR winchman onboard SeaKing helicopters at C Flight 22 Squadron RAF Valley in North Wales.

I became a paramedic in 2008 then became an ALS and paediatric ALS instructor in 2009 for the Resuscitation Council (UK). I joined the UKSAR helicopter service delivered on behalf of HM Coastguard in 2015. I have since read a BSc in Paramedic Practice (1st Class) and an MSc in Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine (Distinction).

My interest is in prehospital resuscitation medicine. I am currently researching the accuracy of inflight POCUS for diagnosing chest injury, and non-parenteral analgesics for use in the SAR setting. 

CCP Education and Scope of Practice in British Columbia

Kevin Lambert: CCP British Columbia, Canada 

British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is the sole provider of pre and intra-hospital care and utilizes paramedics in all roles.

This session explores the levels of paramedic care in BC and focuses on the training and utilization of Critical Care Paramedics.

Blended and innovative advanced Paramedic roles in the UK

Els Freshwater: Consultant Paramedic, National Education and Training Lead (Paramedics) Health Education England 

In the UK, paramedics are increasingly extending their scope of practice, skills, knowledge and experience. Many of these roles take place in non-ambulance settings and provide an opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team. This presentation discusses role development and showcases some examples from emergency and critical care.

Els is a Consultant Paramedic and the Lead ACP for Emergency Medicine in a large teaching hospital and major trauma centre. She is currently seconded to Health Education England as the National Lead for Paramedic Education and Training. Having originally trained as an Ambulance Technician, she completed a paramedic qualification and then took a break from the NHS to work in Queensland Ambulance Service. On her return to the UK, she undertook training as an Emergency Care Practitioner and then an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, being the first paramedic to credential with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. She has over 10 year’s experience within the air ambulance and pre-hospital critical care sector and is an examiner for the Faculty of Prehospital Care. She is faculty on a number of educational programmes and has been the Major Trauma Education lead in her Trust and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Southampton. She has recently completed a Doctorate in Clinical Practice with a thesis exploring the triage of patients with major trauma. 

Critical Care Paramedicine in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Communities in Ontario, Canada

Natalie Lavergne: Critical Care Paramedic, Orange, Ontario, Canada

Natalie will be discussing the unique challenge of geography and low population density on access to healthcare in Ontario and the roles that critical care paramedics play in facilitating access to healthcare for people living in rural, remote, and indigenous communities.

Pushing the boundaries of Paramedic care

Matthew Meister: High Acuity Response Unit CCP Brisbane, Australia

Discussion of the inception and journey of the High Acuity Response Unit in the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Critical Care Paramedicine training, education and research in Victoria, Australia

Dr Ben Meadley: Flight Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic, Australia

In this session, Ben will describe the evolution of critical care paramedicine in Victoria, Australia.

Additionally, Ben will discuss the education, governance and ongoing research that supports prehospital critical care practice in Australia, and around the world.