North Queensland Paramedic Research Symposium Sponsors Cairns and Smithfield Local Ambulance Committee The Kenneth James (Jim) McPherson Foundation James Cook University College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences   “Improving health outcomes through pre-hospital research” Financial contributions from Cairns and Smithfield LAC and KJM McPherson Trust, JCU contributing with symposium co-ordination and venue audio-visual equipment.

“Improving health outcomes through pre-hospital research” This symposium brought together paramedics, researchers and academics to discuss research collaborations, projects, and opportunities. Presentations and focussed discussions provided participants with examples of current and proposed public health, and pre-hospital research activities. The symposium promoted engagement with research funding opportunities such as research grants provided by peak bodies such as NHMRC, Local Ambulance Committees and the KJM Foundation

30 Participants: Paramedics, Academics, Researchers LAC members, RNs Attendees from QAS management (symposium opened by Assistant Commissioner Warren Marin), QAS paramedics, educators and operational managers, JCU, CQU and Monash University academics and researchers, Cairns and Smithfield and Gordonvale LAC members.

Venue: James Cook University Cairns Campus The Cairns Institute Support is gratefully acknowledged from Associate Professor Alan Clough, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL HEALTH & MEDICINE (AITHM). Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute-funded Centre for Research Excellence for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations at James Cook University and the University of South Australia (Professor Robyn McDermott, Chief Investigator).

Presenters: Dr Emma Bosley: Director of QAS Information Support Research and Evaluation Unit Mr Matt Meister: QAS Critical Care Paramedic, High Acuity Response Unit Ms Kate Pemberton: QAS Critical Care Paramedic, PhD scholar. Dr Paul Jennings: MICA Paramedic, Deputy Head of Department Director of Research Honours and HDR Program Coordinator, Monash University A/Prof Alan Clough: JCU College of Public Health, Medical and Vet Services, Community Prevention group. Erin Dowling: Registered Nurse JCU researcher, Cairns Hospital Avoidance Program. Dr Linton Harris: JCU Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.

Dr Emma Bosley : QAS research, projects, opportunities, and pathways. Emma introduced her unit, past and present research undertakings within the QAS as well as invitation to collaborate in research with the QAS through her portfolio.

Matt Meister : Case Study : High Acuity Response Unit, Matt Meister: High Acuity Response Unit Case Study: Matt presented a case study that highlighted the expanded scope of practice and interventions carried out by the High Acuity Response Unit. He also spoke about communication and the clinical governance activities that drive patient safety and improvement for the unit.

Ms Kate Pemberton: Improving outcomes for out of hospital cardiac arrest patients . Kate discussed some of the outcomes from recent studies looking into improving outcomes for out of hospital cardiac arrest patients, and how this may change the ways that these patients are treated.

Dr Paul Jennings: Critical Appraisal of prehospital literature Paul used a variety of prehospital publications to guide the symposium through critically appraising prehospital literature

“Paramedics as front line health providers can provide valuable insight, observations, and data , to assist to inform health researchers and health policy makers “ The symposium afternoon sessions , communicated local health research projects to which paramedics had contributed . Further discussions facilitated opportunities for paramedics to collaborate with researchers in the development of both pre-hospital and public health research agenda. Two break out sessions gave attendees the opportunity to discuss both prehospital or public healthcare research agendas and opportunities.

A/Professor Alan Clough: Alcohol management Plans “Unintended Consequences” Alan discussed the interpretation of some of the Data he and his team have gathered in relation to the impacts of Alcohol management plans in remote indigenous communities and stakeholders such as QAS have contributed to this research.

Erin Downing: Cairns Hospital Avoidance program, visual planning and brainstorming session on managing frequent presentations to ED and Ambulance. Erin ran a brainstorming and visual planning session discussing interventions to assist with dealing with frequent flyers who present to the Cairns Hospital.

Dr Linton Harris : Cairns Hospital Emergency Department Data Linton shared Cairns Hospital Emergency Department data, showing trends and discussing similarities with QAS data, as well as further research opportunities.

Still Photography (by Neil Noble) QAS Facebook page Twitter Media: Still Photography (by Neil Noble) QAS Facebook page Twitter Local Channel Seven News interviews with Dr Emma Bosley and A/Prof Alan Clough Established by QAS media unit Kara Rufford and assisted locally by QAS Senior Operations Supervisor CCP Neil Noble. Media coverage was brokered through the QAS media unit and on Facebook and Twitter, with coverage on the local Channel Seven News

Conveners: QAS Gavin Farry, Keron Davison, Leon Oliveri, Event co-ordination: JCU Melanie Emmerick, Sally Mc’Donald