Australasian College of Paramedicine partners with Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority to advance nation’s pre-hospital sector
The signing on Tuesday of a memorandum of understanding between the Australasian College of Paramedicine (the College) and the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA) to collaboratively advance paramedicine and pre-hospital care in Samoa marks the start of a new era for the Pacific island nation’s pre-hospital clinicians.
Australasian College of Paramedicine CEO John Bruning said the two organisations would collaborate to share paramedicine and pre-hospital education and training, and work together to implement a robust education and credentialling structure to ensure Samoa’s pre-hospital clinicians are suitably trained to meet the current and future needs of the community.
“The College is honoured to be approached by SFESA to work together to improve the health care outcomes through supporting the education, training and credentialling of Samoa’s pre-hospital clinicians. We are committed to advancing paramedicine and pre-hospital care throughout the region and ensuring that clinicians can provide the highest quality healthcare for their communities” Mr Bruning said.
In recent years, SFESA has focused on implementing a pre-hospital care model utilising the National Emergency Call Centre, with a long-term plan to deliver an enhanced model of care for medical emergencies comprising appropriately trained and accredited paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other support staff.
SFESA Commissioner Tanuvasa Petone Mauga said the partnership with the College will strengthen the commitment to improving health care outcomes and emergency medical response across Samoa.
“SFESA has been tasked by the government to be the National Ambulance Provider and we have looked for opportunities to ensure the ambulance services meets the expectation of the public as our client and the government. We also look at ways to ensure there is a pathway for our EMT and Paramedics to be trained in a recognised institution including credentialling” Commissioner Tanuvasa said.
He added further, “We are very excited with regards to this partnership and we are very grateful to ACP for providing this opportunity for SFESA. We believe that this partnership will be instrumental in providing a pathway for more appropriately trained and accredited paramedics as well as enhancing the skillset and knowledge of our Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and other support staff.”
