Clinical Conversations

The Ambulance Victoria Office of the Medical Director
  • 4.7 (45)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BI-MONTHLY

The podcast for paramedics and anyone involved in out-of-hospital care that is critical, urgent, or unplanned. Hosted by James Oswald (Paramedic and clinical guideline developer) and A/Prof David Anderson (Medical Director).Keyword: Paramedic, paramedicine, Emergency Medical Service, EMS, Emergency Medical Technician, EMT, prehospital, pre-hospital critical care, retrieval medicine, ambulance, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, HEMS, air ambulance, emergency, first responder, first aid.

  1. Clinical Updates: May 2026

    2 HRS AGO

    Clinical Updates: May 2026

    Your monthly clinical update covering: ·  CPG updates: New measles CPG + updated CPP for ACOs & CERTs  ·  Hand hygiene refresher: Back to basics in challenging environments  ·  Cardiac arrest outcomes: Conversation with Ziad Nehme on recent improvements  ·  Survey plug: Clinical & Operational Service Delivery Plan  ·  Patient safety: Case review – consulting via the Clinician when engaging external agencies (e.g. PIPER)  ·  Tourniquets: Balancing risks and benefits  ·  Paper of the month: Ambulance offload delays and causes of ramping  ·  Equipment update  ·  Professional development highlights  ·  Small steps: Practical changes to transform your practice  ======= CPG update: CPG update – April 2026 VOD update: Updated guidance - Requests for Verification of Death (VOD) Hand hygiene: Take Five for Hand Hygiene Transmission based precautions clinical work instruction CWI OPS 184 Infection Prevention and Control Transmission Based Precautions.pdf Paper of the month: Initiatives to reduce ambulance offload delays in emergency departments: a scoping review - PubMed Professional development: Fast Tracked Higher Education Pathway for AV Clinical Instructors – Now Open for Mid-Year Intake Clinical Insights: Issue 8 now available The Australasian College of Paramedicine Conference | ACPIC26 CAA Congress | The Council of Ambulance Authorities Inc. Trauma 2026 Conference - Trauma Conference SAS Events – Safe Airway Society Clinical Technology and Equipment Committee Idea Sharing: Clinical Technology and Equipment Committee / CTEC@ambulance.vic.gov.au  Get in touch: clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au Linkedin James Ben     Producer

    38 min
  2. Clinical Updates: March 2026

    27 MAR

    Clinical Updates: March 2026

    Your monthly clinical update from James Oswald (Clinical Practice Guideline Specialist) and A/Prof Ben Meadley (Director of Paramedicine). This month's episode covers: Planned updates to CPGs in 2026Posterior StrokePatient Care RecordsEvaluation data of droperidol and dexamethasone as antiemeticsPaper of the Month: IV vs IO in cardiac arrestEquipment updateProfessional development opportunitiesSmall steps to transform your practicePaper of the Month Vascular access by paramedics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective study of insertion success rates and survival outcomes of intravenous versus intraosseous route  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675726000628  Professional Development Opportunities The Australasian College of Paramedicine | Primary Care Conference 2026 ACP 2026 Education Grants: 2026 Education Grants Open Posterior Stroke Not so FAST: pre-hospital posterior circulation stroke - PMC Get in touch clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au X / Twitter  James: ⁠⁠⁠@JamesOz1⁠⁠  Ben: ⁠@ben_meadley⁠ Linkedin James Ben Producer: Liam Hennebry

    19 min

  3. 1 MAR

    Paramedics DO diagnose: diagnostic safety with A/Professor Carmel Crock

    In this episode of Clinical Conversations, we're joined by Associate Professor Carmel Crock (Director of the Emergency Department at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Chair of the Quality & Patient Safety Committee at the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine) to unpack what diagnosis is, how diagnostic error happens, and how we can make diagnosis safer. We explore common pitfalls like premature closure and diagnostic momentum, and practical ways to improve diagnostic safety.   Get in touch ⁠clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au⁠   Socials David: ⁠@expensivecare⁠ | @expensivecare.bsky.social | LinkedIn James: https://linktr.ee/ClinicalConversations Producer: Liam Hennebry

    1hr 4min
  4. Clinical Updates: February 2025

    15 FEB

    Clinical Updates: February 2025

    Your monthly clinical update from James Oswald (Clinical Practice Guideline Specialist) and A/Prof Ben Meadley (Director of Paramedicine). Cardiac Arrest Update with AV Resuscitation Coordinator Steve MusgravePatient Safety Update: Stroke Assessment and Elderly FallsAlpine and Wilderness Response AlagaesiaToxicology EvaluationAlcohol Withdrawal GuidelineEquipment Update: Syringe DriversPaper of the Month Prehospital transesophageal echocardiography versus conventional advanced life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (PHTEE–OHCA) – a randomized controlled pilot study: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13054-025-05805-w Professional Development Opportunities Fast-Tracked Higher Education Pathway for AV Clinical Instructors:  https://ambulancevic.sharepoint.com/sites/OneAV-news-and-updates/SitePages/Exciting-Opportunity-Fast-Tracked-Higher-Education-Pathway-for-AV-Clinical-Instructors.aspx?web=1  ACP Primary Care Conference Canberra: 21-22 May  ACPIC Melbourne : 8-11 September EMS Asia Singapore 7-13 November  Grad Cert MH: https://victoriauniversity.online/ppc/graduate-certificate-mental-health  https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/graduate-certificate-in-mental-health#/overview?location=ON&studentType=dom&year=2026  https://online.scu.edu.au/online-courses/graduate-certificate-mental-health  https://handbook.monash.edu/2024/courses/m4039  AICG: Clinical Governance, Effective Leadership, Clinical Education, Clinical Feedback.  https://www.aicg.edu.au/education/online-courses/  Get in touch clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au X / Twitter  James: ⁠⁠⁠@JamesOz1⁠⁠  Ben: ⁠@ben_meadley⁠ Linkedin James Ben Producer: Liam Hennebry

    31 min

  5. 2 FEB

    Non-Invasive Ventilation (CPAP and BiPAP)

    In this episode of Clinical Conversations, James Oswald and Ambulance Victoria Medical Director Dr David Anderson unpack non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for prehospital care. They explain the key physiology (oxygenation vs ventilation), the practical difference between CPAP and BiPAP, and how this guides use in COPD, acute pulmonary oedema, COVID, asthma, and undifferentiated dyspnoea. The discussion also covers patient coaching, mask fit troubleshooting, essential monitoring, and how to recognise early success vs failure—including when to escalate and call for help. Get in touch ⁠clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au⁠   Socials David: ⁠@expensivecare⁠ | @expensivecare.bsky.social | LinkedIn James: https://linktr.ee/ClinicalConversations Producer: Liam Hennebry

    46 min
  6. Clinical Updates: December 2025

    23/12/2025

    Clinical Updates: December 2025

    Your monthly clinical update from James Oswald (Clinical Practice Guideline Specialist) and A/Prof Ben Meadley (Director of Paramedicine). Hear from Louise Reynolds (Victoria’s Chief Paramedic Officer) on the women’s pain inquiry findings—and what it means for paramedic practice.Spotlight the VVED back pain pathway: for many patients, opioids + ED isn’t the answer—community physio support can be surprisingly effective.Adam Ho (AV Senior Pharmacist) answers the most common medication questions.Paper of the Month: a must-read on post-intubation hypotension.Ben runs through key professional development opportunities for 2025 and what’s coming in 2026.Equipment update.And we wrap with small steps to transform your practiceFurther resources VVED Back pain pathway presentation (AV employees only): https://engage.cloud.microsoft/main/threads/eyJfdHlwZSI6IlRocmVhZCIsImlkIjoiMzU5OTQ5NzU4NzMzNTE2OCJ9?trk_copy_link=V1 AI Professional Development Courses Free micro-skill course in AI: https://www.australianindustrygroup.com.au/education-training/centre-for-education-and-training/blog/free-introduction-to-artificial-intelligence-microskill-course Digital health 101: https://digitalhealthworkforce.org.au/education-and-resources/ Australian Institute of Digital Health AI essentials: https://cpd.digitalhealth.org.au/course/ai-essentials   AI Podcasts NEJM AI Grand rounds (AI Podcast): https://store.nejm.org/signup/ai/podcasts Beyond the prompt (AI podcast): https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ Paper of the month Prehospital Postintubation Hypotension and Survival in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2841682 Ketamine or Etomidate for Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults: https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2511420 Get in touch clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au X / Twitter  James: ⁠⁠⁠@JamesOz1⁠⁠  Ben: ⁠@ben_meadley⁠ Linkedin James Ben Producer: Liam Hennebry

    38 min

  7. 22/12/2025

    Clinical Conversations: Medical Director Live Q&A

    In our first ever live episode of Clinical Conversations, James Oswald (CPG specialist and paramedic) is joined by Ambulance Victoria Medical Director Dr David Anderson for an end-of-year Q&A on the latest CPG updates. We work through staff questions on the “why” behind key changes—including respiratory care and oxygen targets, NIV expansion and mask issues, airway and RSI updates (including crash induction and consultation for single-responder MICA), and several medication updates such as magnesium compatibility, levetiracetam after midazolam, IV GTN in APO, and opioid choice and multimodal analgesia. They also cover practical operational issues like VVED wait times and what to do when access delays are affecting crews. Get in touch ⁠clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au⁠   Socials David: ⁠@expensivecare⁠ | @expensivecare.bsky.social | LinkedIn James: https://linktr.ee/ClinicalConversations

    49 min

  8. 03/12/2025

    Clinical Updates: November 2025

    Your monthly clinical update from James Oswald (Clinical Practice Guideline Specialist) and A/Prof Ben Meadley (Director of Paramedicine): 02:10 – CPG Update Released • Highlights major 2025 CPG changes, app issues, and expected three-month transition period (IFS ceases immediately).  • Emphasis on professional judgment, understanding over memorisation, and upcoming live Q&A.  • Request for staff feedback on new learning methods. 05:42 – Women’s Pain Inquiry Findings • Large Victorian inquiry confirms women’s pain is frequently dismissed; implications for paramedic practice. 06:58 – Registration & Professional Capabilities • Registration season brings opportunity to review Paramedicine Board capabilities: communication, cultural safety, risk management, lifelong learning. 08:05 – Paper 1: AI ECG for STEMI • AI ECG analysis outperforms clinicians in complex cases and may reduce cath lab false activations; human–AI collaboration is the future. 10:20 – Paper 2: Community Paramedicine Study • Time-and-motion study shows community paramedicine is a thinking-intensive role with few interventions. 13:40 – Paper 3: Methoxy vs Fentanyl vs Morphine • Methoxyfluorane provides fastest early analgesia; supports multimodal pain management with methoxy as a strong first-line option. 17:56 – Equipment Update • Reminder not to pre-connect sensitive devices (e.g., EtCO₂ adapters, Yankauer) due to temperature and contamination risks. 19:54 – AI Professional Development Workshop • Upcoming Monash workshop on trustworthy generative AI for healthcare, available in-person and virtually. Resources   Inquiry into women’s pain: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womens-pain  Gender disparities in EMS care: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36369725/  Sex Differences in Patients With Acute Chest Pain:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109723000839  Professional capabilities: https://www.paramedicineboard.gov.au/Professional-standards/Professional-capabilities-for-registered-paramedics.aspx    Papers of the month  Community paramedicine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588994X25000909?via%3Dihub  Pain relief study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673625015752  AI-Enabled ECG Analysis: https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcin.2025.10.018  Professional development  Building Trustworthy GenAI for Healthcare Innovation: https://shop.monash.edu/masterclass-building-trustworthy-genai-for-healthcare-innovation.html  Get in touch  ⁠clinicalguidelines@ambulance.vic.gov.au⁠ James: https://linktr.ee/ClinicalConversations Ben: ⁠@ben_meadley⁠ , Ben - Linkedin  Producer: Liam Hennebry

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

The podcast for paramedics and anyone involved in out-of-hospital care that is critical, urgent, or unplanned. Hosted by James Oswald (Paramedic and clinical guideline developer) and A/Prof David Anderson (Medical Director).Keyword: Paramedic, paramedicine, Emergency Medical Service, EMS, Emergency Medical Technician, EMT, prehospital, pre-hospital critical care, retrieval medicine, ambulance, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, HEMS, air ambulance, emergency, first responder, first aid.

Information

  • Creator
    The Ambulance Victoria Office of the Medical Director
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Clinical Conversations
  • Show Website
    Clinical Conversations

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