Rescue Medical Technician -
Introduction
Course Development History
Accreditation and
Re-Accreditation
Course Outcomes :
Course Delivery Modes
Entry Requirements :
Recognition of Prior Learning
Course Development History
Industry/Market Needs
Consultation with the NSW Fire Brigade and allied rescue organisations
(Mining and Industrial Rescue, Bush Fire, and State Emergency Services)
have identified a competency and skill deficiencies in rescue procedures
by rescue operators in the area of emergency Basic Life Support WS) and
Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS).
Officers roles were analysed with learners needs being facilitated. It
was determined that there was an area of emergency response that has not
been catered for within the Industrial, Mining and community
environments of Australia. With the ever increasing demands placed on
emergency services, fire brigade and allied emergency rescue units often
initiate primary treatment and management to the sick and injured prior
to the arrival of the recognised clinical professionals (i.e.
Ambulance Services, Helicopter Retrieval services and the
Flying Doctors).
It was also recognised that many
primary response units such as the NSW Fire Brigade and allied emergency
services (Mining and Industrial Rescue, Bush Fire Services, Volunteer
Rescue Services, State Emergency Services) have personnel in dangerous
and precarious situations during the day to day operations of the
organisation. This training program allows the rescuer to obtain the
necessary skills and competencies to rescue the rescuer if required and
extend these skills to the people of the various communities within
their field of operations.
Although traditionally there has been a
basic strategy to incorporate basic first aid training for fire officers
and volunteers rescue associations, there has been no recognised
credentials for allied emergency personnel and / or fire fighters. In
1993 Paramedical Services Pty Limited and the NSW Fire Brigade
recognised the need to initiate a training / educational program of
instruction in (BLS) and (Bns).
Accreditation and
Re-accreditation
(Paramedical Services Pty Limited Rescue Medical Technicians award has
been awarded accreditation with the NSW Vocational Education and
Training Accreditation Board (VETAB)VETAB accreditation recognises that
a vocational course or training program meets the standards required by
National Framework for the Recognition of Training (NFROT) principles
and complies with the VETAB guidelines.
Accreditation of Paramedical Services
Rescue Medical Technicians (RMT) Course focuses on assessment of the
standards and content of the course to ensure :
- quality
- relevance to industry and the
community
- learning outcomes and content are
appropriate to the credential awarded and
- assessment methods are included
and appropriate.
A certification and recertification
policy and procedure has been put into place to ensure a satisfactory
standard of training is maintained. It is important for each Rescue
Medical Technician, Rescue Medical Technician - Defibrillation and
Rescue Medical Technician -Intermediate officer to understand that RMT
training is not a one time effort.
To maintain, update and broaden needed
knowledge and skills the RMT operator must continue to study. This
responsibility for continuing educational effort exist whether the RMT
is affiliated with a full time paid job or a volunteer organisation. In
fact it has been determined that volunteers probably have a greater need
for continuing education, because they do not have as many opportunities
to refresh their knowledge and skills in actual patient handling.
Recertification requires individuals to
attend a two day educational and instructional program for re
examination and testing in the various patient management skills
annually. Students at this time will be introduced to new protocols,
techniques and procedures that have been revised or introduced during
their time as Rescue Medical Technicians.
Course Outcomes
The overall aim of this educational and instructional program is to
introduce emergency rescue personnel to the care and assistance of the
sick and injured in the pre- hospital field. This program has been
directed thus far at a specific industry, Fire Brigades, Industrial
rescue organisations, Mines rescue organisations, park rangers and
outdoor or expedition leaders but can be customised to any personnel
operating in the pre- hospital field.
This program has been designed to
compliment pre-hospital care given by state regulated emergency services
such as ambulance services. The various components of the course allow
non-medically trained personnel to obtain a level of training adequate
enough to ensure they are proficient in the application of emergency
basic life support, and basic trauma life support skills and procedures.
The RMT training program is an
extension of first aid training programs designed specifically for
individuals working within the field of emergency responses and
activation. The aim of this course is to provide participants with the
knowledge and skills to perform safely the prescribed range of
functions, involving predetermined routines and procedures in the area
of basic cardiac and trauma life support, in order to deal with the
early care of the sick and injured, prior to the arrival of emergency
medical professionals (flying doctors, helicopter retrieval services,
ambulance services).
Delivery Modes
Rescue Medical Technicians Award is conducted through a series of
classroom lectures spread out over 142 hours (nominal hours). The
didactic sessions are broken up with practical application of learnt
skill and procedures. Theory modules are supported by extensive
practical sessions both in the classroom and in the field.
Scenarios and simulated emergency
situations are utilised to further enhance students learning and
adaptability to emergency medical pre-hospital work.
Paramedical Services, Rescue Medical
Technicians Award is conducted on a full time basis. Due to the
intricacies of emergency medicines and the skills and procedures
required to function in this environment, distant education is not a
viable mechanism for education or learning. Students are taught using a
careful mix of didactic and "hands on" practical sessions to ensure
optimum learning outcomes.
It is therefore necessary that
classroom delivery and field exercises provide preceptors with the
optimum delivery mode. This mode of delivery does not isolate remote
operational enterprises in that the training program are delivered
on-site to enhance and support the participants completion of the
course. Organisations are not expected to detract from productivity,
goals and / or objectives and may elect to customise the program further
by splitting the program to suit their needs.
Because of the flexibility and design
of the RMT program, it may be separated into training blocks, providing
students both time to absorb and reinforce skills, knowledge and
competencies, but also allowing companies and organisations; access to
their human resources during training periods.
It has been found that on site training
maximises outcome by limiting the various stress factors for students,
e.g. being absent from their place of residence, finding alternate
accommodation, and organising transport, and expenses
Entry Requirements
Essentially there are no entry requirements or prerequisites for this
program.
However it is recommended that participants are / have :
- Senior First Aid Certificate
- complementary work experience
- employed or involvement in the
care and management of the sick and injured in the pre-hospital
environment
an active role or interest in the provision of advance rescue
medical training and skills.
- a level of general education of
year 10 including relevant literacy and numeracy skills in general
adult education
- a reasonable level of fitness and
health.
It is essential that students demonstrate a proficiency in the English
language to ensure that maximum care and management can be provided to
the patient in an emergency situation. It is vital that the RMT
operators can converse satisfactorily with patients, relatives and
bystanders in order to obtain and comprehend the medical history
regarding the patients condition.
This information in most cases will
have to be relayed to medical professionals and support services, such
as flying doctors, helicopter retrieval services, ambulance services and
hospitals. Operators must be clear, concise and accurate in their
reporting skills.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Paramedical Services policy on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
will be adopted and incorporated into the delivery of the Rescue Medical
Technicians training course. Recognition of Prior Learning is described
as the process whereby an individuals skills and knowledge may be
recognised, irrespective of how it was obtained or acquired.
Paramedical Services have included in
each module specification the following statement detailing RPL
principles.
Participants who have completed appropriate training, or through prior
learning and experience believe that they have gained the required
outcomes stipulated for this module, may be granted credit upon
substantiation of that claim.
Evidence of prior learning may include
a combination of the following, which assesses all aspects of the
competency;
- evidence of current competence
- problem solving tasks
- oral and/or written evidence
demonstrating knowledge of the principles of anatomy and physiology
- oral and/or written evidence
demonstrating knowledge of basic life support procedures and skills
oral and/or written evidence demonstrating knowledge of basic trauma
life support procedures and skills
- statements of attainment
- challenge tests.
