Development of a newborn resuscitation clinical practice guideline for Ambulance Victoria

Background: In July 2008, Victoria’s three ambulances services: the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Rural Ambulance Victoria and Alexandra and District Ambulance Service merged to create one state-wide ambulance service: Ambulance Victoria (AV). As none of the three services had a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the resuscitation of a newborn, the Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS) were invited to assist AV with the development of this CPG.Method: Based on the Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines (2006) and in consultation with NETS and the Victorian Newborn Resuscitation Project (VNPR), members of AV’s Quality and Education Services and Clinical Effectiveness and Research developed the newborn resuscitation CPG for Ambulance Victoria. NETS/VNRP provided expert advice in regard to recommended equipment, and procedures such as intubation of the newborn, intraosseous access for fl uid resuscitation and administration of medications.Results: In September 2010, the Ambulance Victoria Medical Advisory Committee endorsed the newborn resuscitation clinical practice guideline. Ambulance Victoria’s Professional Education team have requested ongoing liaison with NETS & the VNRP in the development of a procedural DVD and other training materials to facilitate training both for trainee paramedics at University and for AV paramedics in Victoria.Conclusions: Ambulance Victoria now have a standardised State-wide, evidence based CPG for newborn resuscitation. It is anticipated this will improve the initial care and outcomes of infants attended by ambulance paramedics in the home or en route to a hospital throughout Victoria.