Dr Jacob O’Gorman1,2,3, Dr Jeffrey Hooper1,2, Dr Andrew Donohue1,2, Dr Anja Dehn1, Ms Maree Cummins3
1Queensland Health,Australia, 2LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine, Australia, 3Royal Flying Doctor Service (QLD Section), Australia
The Queensland Aeromedical Standard Operating Procedures (QASOPs) is a collaborative project between Retrieval Services Queensland (RSQ), LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine (LRM) and Royal Flying Doctor Service, Queensland Section (RFDS QLD).
The aim is create a suite of SOPs that address core topics of Pre-Hospital Retrieval Medicine that will be used by retrieval teams in QLD.
The initial phase of the project to is to create 16 SOPs that cover trauma, medical and obstetric topics. Three have been completed and are operational (Chest Trauma, COVID-19 Transfers, Acute Behavioural Disturbance), with the remainder planned to be completed and operational by end of 2022.
Benefits of standardisation include:
1. RSQ is the central tasking agency for QLD and tasks both LRM + RFDS teams. A single common SOP ensures that the medical coordinator is aware of the process to be followed by the retrieval team regardless of which organisation they represent.
2. At the RFDS bases in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville, if a doctor is required for a retrieval, the doctor is supplied by LRM which means the retrieval team is is made up of members from different organisations.
3. Increasingly clinical staff are working across multiple organisations.
The process for creating the SOPs includes:
– Small teams of LRM + RFDS clinicians review existing SOPs from both organisations, other SOPs from Australia and internationally + current evidence on the topic.
– QASOPs working group (clinical members from RSQ, LRM, RFDS) then convert to standardized format, ensure suitability for each organisation + both rotary/ fixed wing assets, and aligns with other QLD organisations + processes including- Queensland Ambulance Service, Children’s Resuscitation Emergency Drug Dosage Guide and Statewide Trauma Clinical Network.
– SOPs are submitted for approval by the State-wide Integrated Governance Quality Assurance Committee.