News & Events: Media Releases

Ambulance paramedics thank Cairns Private in Australia Day honours

23 January 2006

“In recognition of ongoing support of paramedic staff via cardiac investigation laboratory clinical placement”.(citation)

The Cairns Private Hospital’s contribution to training Queensland Ambulance paramedics in coronary management has been recognised in an Achievement Certificate to be presented at the Australia Day Awards ceremony tomorrow.

The Cardiac Services team has been providing clinical placement training to second and third year paramedics for the past four years.

Cairns Private Hospital CEO Richard Lizzio said the Cardiac Services team provides superior cardiac care and its professionalism sets an excellent example for junior staff to watch and learn from.

“It is great that the work and efforts of this dedicated group of individuals has been recognised,” he said.

Last year the team was ranked in the top 25 per cent of the country on a national patient satisfaction survey conducted by Press Ganey.

Queensland Ambulance Regional Staff Development Manager Sally White said the Cairns Private cardiac team has shown enormous generosity by taking the time to educate paramedics about the delicate nature of cardiac angiography and post procedural care.

The students observe a coronary angiography being undertaken, which is a diagnostic investigation of the heart where a catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin or arm and guided into the interior of the heart.

Ms White said the experience brings the paramedics’ physiology and anatomy knowledge to life, making it relative to the management of their patients during a hospital transfer.

The students have the invaluable opportunity to talk first hand with cardiologists and nurses about the procedure.

“The ambulance staff rave about the CPH training and the staff, especially Clinical Nurse Manager Sheena Cunningham… and this award is our way of saying thanks,” she said.

Since opening the 1999 the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory at Cairns Private has performed over 5000 coronary angiograms and implanted more than 250 permanent pacemakers including “state-of-the-art” implantable cardiac defibrillators and Bi-ventricular pacemakers.

Director of Finance and Administration Rachel O’Sullivan will accept the award on behalf of CPH at the Australia Day Awards ceremony to be held at the Cairns Ambulance Station, 42-50 Anderson St, 10am Tuesday 24 January, 2006.