Queensland Ambulance Service - Structure and Operations

Structure and Operations

The QAS Medical Director is responsible to the Commissioner for the overall Clinical Governance of the Service and specifically for ensuring that patient care services provided by officers of the Queensland Ambulance Service are delivered at a consistently high standard. The Medical Director is also responsible for QAS Policy on Staff Health and Wellbeing and setting medical priorities for ambulance resource dispatch.

Ambulance operations of the Queensland Ambulance Service are performed by its operational staff. QAS operational staff include Student Paramedics, Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs), Intensive Care Paramedics (ICPs), Patient Transport Officers (PTOs) and Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs).

Advanced Care Paramedics possess either a Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or a Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) or equivalent qualifications. In addition to this, an Intensive Care Paramedic possesses a Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedic Practice or equivalent. ACPs and ICPs attend medical, surgical and trauma emergencies. Patient Transport Officers possess a Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport or equivalent, and provide non-emergency patient transport services. Emergency Medical Dispatchers have completed a Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call Taking) and a Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications (Dispatch) or equivalent. EMDs receive emergency calls and direct ambulance services to the emergency, and advise callers in performing first aid until the ambulance arrives on scene.

ACPs are competent in many emergency medical skills, including airway management (oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway, oropharyngeal suctioning, laryngoscopy and Magill's forceps, laryngeal mask airway, intermittent positive pressure ventilation), cardiac management (cardiac monitoring - basic ECG interpretation and 12-lead ECG, manual defibrillation), drug/fluid administration (intramuscular injection, intravenous cannulation, fluid replacement), and the administration of basic and advanced drugs (aspirin, glucose, glyceryl trinitrate, adrenaline, morphine etc.).

Intensive Care Paramedics typically respond when their level of clinical practice is required. In some areas, they will respond as a single officer. These ambulances are not equipped to transport patients, but contain much of the same equipment as a regular ambulance, as well as advanced equipment. ICPs are competent in all ACP procedures, as well as advanced emergency medical skills, such as endotracheal intubation, synchronised cardioversion, transcutaneous cardiac pacing, decompression of tension pneumothorax, extra-jugular venous cannulation, procedural sedation (midazolam, ketamine etc.), pre-hospital thrombolysis (tenecteplase), intraosseous access, as well as the administration of advanced drugs (atropine, heparin, ketamine etc.).