Paramedic Practitioners
All paramedics can respond to emergencies. In addition to emergency healthcare skills, many Paramedics have additional primary care capabilities. These specialist paramedics can treat a wider range of health conditions. Paramedics with additional primary care skills are “generalists” and work alongside Doctors and Nurse Practitioners. They also work collaboratively and in team-based arrangements with other allied health professionals. With advanced capabilities, these specialist paramedics can assess, diagnose, and treat a broad range of patients. Paramedic Practitioner is the top tier of paramedics with additional primary care capabilities. Other tiers include:
- Extended Care Paramedics
- Community Paramedics
- Primary Care Paramedics
Where do Paramedic Practitioners practise?
Paramedics, with additional primary care skills, work in a wide range of public and private settings including GP surgeries, community health centres, public and private hospitals, aged care facilities, people’s homes, education facilities, mental health settings, drug and alcohol services, non-government organisations, in military, corporate and industrial settings and also ambulance services.
When should I see a Paramedic Practitioner?
As healthcare generalists’, patients will encounter these specialist paramedics for a variety of reasons. This includes health promotion, disease prevention, acute and chronic health conditions.
Patients may encounter paramedics, with additional primary care skills, as a single episode of care or an ongoing basis. To enable continuity of care and a coordinated approach to health care, these paramedics aim to provide follow up and ongoing care for patients they encounter.
What services do Paramedic Practitioners provide?
Paramedics, with additional primary care skills, assess, treat, and where necessary, refer patients with a broad range of health conditions. This includes advice and treatment for:
- Health promotion, disease prevention and early identification
- Lifestyle advice and modification
- Assessment, treatment and, where necessary, referral for acute health conditions
- Assessment, treatment and, where necessary, referral for chronic health conditions
- As a member of a multidisciplinary team
How are Paramedic Practitioners qualified?
To practise, Paramedic Practitioners, and all paramedics with advanced primary care skills, must meet the following criteria:
- Meet national AHPRA registration standards established by the Paramedicine Board of Australia
- Have front line industry experience
- Completed additional studies, approved by the Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners
- Qualification levels include:
- Extended Care Paramedics – Short courses
- Community Paramedics – Graduate Certificate
- Primary Care Paramedics – Graduate Diploma
- Paramedic Practitioners – Masters
- Complete at least 30 hours of continuing professional development each year.
Further Information
For more detailed information about paramedics with additional primary care skills, please visit the Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners.