The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria
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Retrieval
State Major Trauma Gudielines (Word 95KB)
Victorian rural emergency retrieval
The majority of emergency retrieval cases are not trauma but various medical or surgical conditions requiring urgent transfer. Whatever the condition, a judgment has to be made as to whether medical procedures should be taken before transfer if the delay of transfer to tertiary care will entail risk to the patient.
To save lives and prevent serious disability the entire length in time and mechanism of transfer have to be taken in to consideration when making this decision. The ‘golden hour’ applies to both medical and surgical conditions and too often can be wasted in a rush to get the patient to a major centre.
The entire range and complexity of emergency medical care requires a full medical education and is beyond the scope of trained paramedic and MICA ambulance officers by themselves. MICAs themselves are in short supply in rural areas.
Weather very often prevents the use of air transport through cloud, wind and ice, leaving rural doctors to provide intensive care for prolonged periods. The attached picture is of a helicopter that crashed while attempting a retrieval. The lives of pilots and airborne medical staff and patients must not be put at risk.
Ensuring that appropriate medical care is provided before transfer means a commitment on the part of the State to maintain the rural medical workforce, and to ensure that rural Hospitals take appropriate steps to guarantee round the clock availability of well trained and experienced rural doctors.
Community located response
Alexandra District Ambulance Service through the eyes of a medical student. RRHJ