- By East Health Trust primary health organisation
After catching the flu, a local man with a chronic lung condition began struggling with breathlessness and wheezing.
Needing help urgently, he contacted his GP clinic and was able to see an Extended Care Paramedic (ECP), who gave him a full check-up and started him on an inhaler and antibiotics – bringing quick relief.
Noting this was his third episode in six months, the paramedic recommended further tests, a referral to a respiratory physio, and a follow-up with his GP.
With this support, he learned how to manage his breathing and clear mucus more easily and now has a long-term plan to manage his health condition.
ECPs as health professionals are relatively new to General Practice and are a great addition to the team.
With backgrounds in emergency care, ECPs complete university programmes and gain frontline experience in ambulance services before advancing to postgraduate study and into primary care and GP clinics.
Their ability to adapt to high-pressure environments, combined with advanced clinical assessment skills, makes them a perfect fit for ensuring our communities receive timely treatment, especially when someone needs same day care.
Extended Care Paramedics (ECPs) compliment traditional GP teams through their ability to perform advanced clinical assessments, manage medical emergencies like cardiac chest pain, severe asthma and anaphylaxis, provide pain relief from mild to severe cases, diagnose and treat infections and deliver advanced wound care, including suturing and administer vaccinations.
Extending the options available to support you and your whanau when you need healthcare is a huge focus of our general practice network, and Extended Care Paramedics are just one of the choices we have available locally.
Our general practice network is dedicated to offering a wider range of healthcare options for you and your whanau.
One of the services available locally is the support of Extended Care Paramedics, helping to ensure you have access to the care you need when it matters most.
- Stay tuned for your next East Health Trust local health update in the next issue of the Eastern Times and at www.times.co.nz.
