Mediclinic EMS Personnel Utilization - 2024 PDF

UTILISATION OF EMS PERSONNEL IN MEDICLINIC EMERGENCY CENTRES Position Paper MCSA C.EC.1.3 PURPOSE To provide an integrated healthcare professional team in the emergency centre, this position paper addresses the situation of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel working in Mediclinic Emergency...

UTILISATION OF EMS PERSONNEL IN MEDICLINIC EMERGENCY CENTRES Position Paper MCSA C.EC.1.3 PURPOSE To provide an integrated healthcare professional team in the emergency centre, this position paper addresses the situation of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel working in Mediclinic Emergency Centres (ECs). The Task Group recommends that prehospital healthcare providers be considered to provide care in Mediclinic Emergency Centres but only under the following circumstances and conditions: 1. ALS personnel may provide a level of care within the Paramedic (Critical Care + NDip), Emergency Care Technician or Emergency Care Practitioner scope of practice as determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974). 2. ILS personnel may provide a level of care within the Ambulance Emergency Assistant and Emergency Care Assistant scope of practice as determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974). 3. BLS personnel may provide a level of care within the Basic Ambulance Assistant scope of practice as determined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa in terms of the Health Professions Act, 1974 (Act No. 56 of 1974). 4. That ALS, ILS and BLS prehospital EMS staff are placed by a temporary placement agency like MHR, and not be appointed in permanent positions, and (if not employed by ER24) undergo the same scrutiny as EMS appointees via a temporary placement agency. 5. The provision of clinical care by ER24 prehospital staff in the prehospital setting takes preference above providing care in the EC environment. 6. No EC nursing category can be replaced by an ALS, ILS or BLS staff member, however, specific functions in the EC can be allocated to an EMS staff member. 7. All EMS practitioners must report to the PN|GN|RN (professional nurse | general nurse | registered nurse) shift leader and cannot replace the shift leader or work without supervision of the PN. Utilisation of EMS personnel in MCSA Emergency Centres Effective date: 2024 12 01 Page 1 of 11 The printed copies of this document shall be treated as uncontrolled. Please refer to the online version for the latest version.  8. Pre-hospital EMS staff may not exceed their scope of practice. APPLICABILITY This position paper is applicable to: Temporary Placement Agencies ER24 Hospital General Manager / Hospital Clinical Manager Nursing Manager Emergency Centre Unit Manager DEFINITIONS TERM, ACRONYM OR DEFINITION ABBREVIATION AEA Ambulance Emergency Assistant AED Automated External Defibrillator ALS Advanced Life Support BAA Basic Ambulance Assistant BLS Basic Life Support EC Emergency Centre ECA Emergency Care Assistant ECP Emergency Care Practitioner ECT Emergency Care Technician EN Enrolled Nurse ENA | AN Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary | Auxiliary Nurse GN General Nurse ILS Intermediate Life Support MCSA Mediclinic Southern Africa PN Professional Nurse RN Registered Nurse (Namibia) RESPONSIBILITIES PERSON RESPONSIBILITIES Temporary Placement Placement of hospital orientated EMS personnel Agency Coordinator Nursing Manager Ensure the appropriate implementation and application of this position paper Utilisation of EMS personnel in MCSA Emergency Centres Effective date: 2024 12 01 Page 2 of 11 The printed copies of this document shall be treated as uncontrolled. Please refer to the online version for the latest version.  EC Unit Manager Explain practical implications to everyone in the EC care team Discuss role clarification of everyone in the EC care team and manage expectations Ensure everyone understands the scope of practice of all the role players in the EC care team EMS Function within own scope of practice while in the EC care team PN | GN | RN Act in supervisory position, delegating tasks to EMS personnel as per scope of practice FUNCTIONALITY OF EMS PERSONNEL IN THE EMERGENCY CENTRE FUNCTION ALS: ILS: BLS: (Paramedic, (AEA, ECA) (BAA) ECT, ECP) Manage a shift / coordination of No No No healthcare regimes Make a nursing diagnosis No No No Triage Yes Yes (if trained) No Vital sign assessment Yes Yes Yes Finger prick and blood glucose Yes Yes Yes measurement Resuscitation adult, child, infant Yes Yes Yes and neonate as per scope of practise AED usage Yes Yes Yes Manual defibrillation Yes Yes No Synchronised cardioversion Yes (Not ECT) No No Transcutaneous pacing Yes (Not ECT) No No Medication administration as per Yes Yes No scope of practise (IV/IO/IM/SC/Oral) External haemorrhage control Yes Yes Yes Basic manual airway manoeuvres Yes Yes Yes Endotracheal intubation (RSI only) Only ECP No No Oxygenation and nebulization Yes Yes Yes Bag-valve mask ventilation Yes Yes Yes Mechanical ventilation adult, child Yes (Not ECT) No No and neonate Non-invasive ventilation (oxygen Yes Yes (Not AEA) No driven e.g. Airvo) Intravenous cannulation >1y Yes Yes No Intravenous cannulation