Miss Kym Murphy1
1Queensland Ambulance Service, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
With a clinical background in occupational therapy, Kym has worked across the healthcare continuum in Queensland and Western Australia. She has a strong interest in development of clinicians and implementing service improvement initiatives for optimised patient experience and care. Kym implemented the Falls Co-Response Program in Brisbane and is leading the expansion to other regions throughout the state. Kym has a Graduate Certificate in Digital Health and is currently completing her research masters. Outside of work Kym enjoys beach days and spending time with her niece and nephew.
Abstract:
Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisations in Australia. In the 2023/24 financial year, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) attended 121,725 fall-related incidents, comprising 13% of all Triple Zero (000) calls received. Over half of these occurred in people aged 65 years and older.
The Australian-first QAS Falls Co-Response Program, commenced in the metropolitan Brisbane in October 2023, in partnership with Queensland Health. A QAS paramedic is partnered with a Queensland Health occupational therapist or physiotherapist, working in a transdisciplinary role, to provide a primary response to Triple Zero (000) calls for patients who have fallen. This complementary skill set provides on-scene, multidisciplinary, assessment, intervention and care planning.
In 2023, 2,773 incidents were attended by the two crews Brisbane crews. The average age of patients seen is 75 years and 49% required assistance to get up from the ground. Half of the patients seen were transported to hospital while others were able to continue care at home. Referrals were facilitated, as required, to community health teams for further management of falls risks and to optimise function at home.
The QAS Falls Co-Response Program facilitates provision of high-quality, patient-centred care much earlier to this cohort of vulnerable patients and reduces demand on the Emergency Department. Partnering with primary and specialist healthcare providers in the community allows identification of the most appropriate pathway of care for these patients whilst maintaining their dignity and affording autonomous decision-making.