SA Ambulance Service

In February 2018, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards awarded SA Ambulance Service a three year accreditation in the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, making it the first ever ambulance service to receive the recognition.

The accreditation means patients and their families can be secure that the care provided by SA Ambulance Service staff achieves or exceeds industry best practice.

The NSQHS Standards were developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in consultation and collaboration with jurisdictions, technical experts and a wide range of stakeholders, including health professionals and patients.

The Standards aim to drive the implementation of safety and quality systems and improve the quality of health care in Australia.

The accreditation report highlights a number of areas of good practice:

·       Efficient processes in place for triaging triple zero (000) calls and coordination and dispatch of ambulance resources.

·      Work being undertaken by extended care paramedics to minimise hospitalisation of clinically appropriate patients.

·     Development of a new ambulance station at Noarlunga and the Rescue, Retrieval and Aviation Services base at Adelaide Airport.

·     The development of a Consumer Advisory Committee that reflects the diversity of the community and population served by SAAS and provides advice related to service needs and planning activities.

·        Introduction of a Falls and Pressure Injuries training program.

·        Availability of specialised equipment for lifting and managing bariatric patients.

·        Introduction of an infection control coordinator.