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QAS paramedic wins $8Ok EMF research grant Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Critical Care Paramedic Wayne Loudon has secured an $86,623 Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) Leading Edge grant to investigate how technology can be used by paramedics in the field to improve early identification of severe head injuries, to ultimately reduce resulting disability and improve patient outcomes. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of ongoing disability and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates around 107 people in 100,000 will have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, and 20 per cent of these will be considered severe. In 2008 alone, it was estimated there were 1,500 moderate and 1,000 severe cases of TBI. The long-term cost to the Australian population is approximately $1.2 billion.
QAS paramedics are often the first on the scene to assess those with severe head injuries and play a significant role in preventing a secondary brain injury.
the secondary injury and while there are things we can do, they’re all very much based on temporising actions like using medication to reduce brain swelling,” he said.
Wayne said currently, treatments are administered based on indirect clinical signs, like changes in pupils.
Wayne’s two-year EnTRAIN research project will investigate if EEG could provide ‘real-time’ information on the brain’s response to injury and in the future perhaps aid in the clinical management of this group.
“Current QAS treatment includes our High Acuity Response Unit (HARU) paramedics placing patients into a medically induced coma to reduce
Summer 2021–22
