News & Events: Media Releases

Ambulance Education - A Great Success

The Kareena Private Hospital in Sutherland Shire is one of only three private hospitals in Sydney providing a fully functioning and comprehensive Emergency Department.

As part of the hospital’s commitment to education, the Pulse Ambulance Education program was initiated just over 2 years ago with great enthusiasm and ongoing success.

“The program has been very successful due to the partnering between the Ambulance Service and Kareena Private Hospital. This is both at the development of the annual program and also in organising the education sessions and speakers. It is a real partnership that provides wonderful outcomes for us and for the Ambulance officers” said CEO Sue Panuccio.

The program has been expanded to include the local General Practitioner’s, providing doctors with the opportunity to benefit from an education program targeted at the Pre -hospital management of many conditions.

It has also provided the opportunity for General Practitioners to participate in interactive sessions with leading local Specialist Doctors. The sessions have been accredited to receive RACGP QA & CPD program points.

The program also provides for the Kareena Private Hospital’s clinical staff to attend all sessions, furthering the professional development program at the Hospital

The program in 2006/07 covered a huge range of topics including:

• Strokes and latest treatments
• Diabetes and Endocrine Emergencies
• Acute Coronary Syndrome
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• Street Drugs
• Resuscitation update
• Neurological Emergencies

Over 450 participants have attended the education program which is geared around practical information for clinicians.

Presenters were drawn from a wide field but also included the hospital’s specialists, CMO’s and Emergency doctors.

Key organiser of the program at Kareena, Mariela Chisari believes that the positive outcomes from the program have assisted in developing and strengthening the relationships between all disciplines of the Health care team.

It is a medium in which information can be shared by leading specialists in their field, with a varied audience. Sessions are interactive where participants are actively encouraged to share and ask information that may not always be readily available.

Bettina Mason, an ambulance officer who regularly attends the sessions, feels that ‘the education she gets from the program really helps with day to day emergencies ambulance officers are faced with.
“The speakers really know their stuff and ensure that the content is focused for the types of patients and events that we deal with. One of the recent sessions looked at stroke management and the importance of timely diagnosis and treatments available for the management of strokes within the Emergency Triage setting. It has given me a greater insight into the available options of treatment for patients with strokes and will help me in my work. I really enjoy the group participation. I can utilize what I learn despite being an ambo for 19 years. I continue to develop my diagnostic skills through the sessions. On top of that the great hot buffet that the hospital provides at the start of the session is a good way to network with other ambulance officers, GPs and with the hospital team,” she said.