MORE specialist care for the state’s most critically ill patients is on the way, with Ambulance Victoria (AV) boosting its Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) workforce.
On February 16, 24 paramedics – known as MICA interns – started AV’s MICA Bridging Program, preparing them to hit the road next month.
From March 30, these interns will start on-road work across Victoria and continue their specialised and advanced intensive care training alongside qualified MICA paramedics.
AV Chief Executive Officer Jordan Emery said it takes about 10 years of dedicated study and experience to become a MICA paramedic.
“This is a significant and exciting new chapter for these MICA interns who have chosen to take this next step in their career with AV,” Mr Emery said.
“Their professionalism, expertise and commitment will make an enormous contribution to the delivery of the very best care for Victorians facing the most critical life-threatening emergencies.
“Our latest cohort of 24 MICA interns will help AV continue to meet the growing medical emergency response needs of Victoria – and are on top of 44 MICA interns who hit the road last year.”
Of the latest cohort of MICA interns, 18 will be placed at metropolitan MICA branches including three in Campbellfield and two in Bundoora. Six will be placed at regional branches.
MICA paramedics can perform advanced medical procedures such as advanced airway management including intubation, manage complex trauma injuries, administer intra-osseous (into bone) medications, treat life-threatening respiratory conditions and provide advanced management of cardiac conditions.
Their training includes a more detailed understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology to increase the capacity to make complex clinical decisions and provide exceptional clinical leadership, in the pre-hospital environment.
The six-week MICA Bridging Program translates tertiary education into practice and covers a range of clinical areas including respiratory, cardiac, trauma, medical, paediatric and obstetrics.
After 18 months of on-road operational clinical training, the MICA interns will graduate as fully qualified MICA paramedics.
Enrolment into the AV MICA Bridging Program occurs after successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Specialist Critical Care Paramedicine at Monash University or an equivalent qualification.
