Pre-Hospital Care Podcast

In this blog audio, Radu Venter challenges the popular narrative that labels paramedics as “heroes,” arguing that while the term may appear respectful, it ultimately does more harm than good. He contends that calling paramedics heroes strips away their humanity, placing unrealistic expectations on their emotional resilience, availability, and ability to cope with trauma. This perception risks normalising overwork and burnout, as it implies that sacrifice and self-neglect are inherent parts of the job.Radu also highlights a key distinction between heroism and professionalism. Heroism, he argues, is by nature extraordinary and temporary, while paramedicine is a lifelong, skilled profession requiring expertise, discipline, and teamwork. Romanticising the work as heroic can discourage sound risk assessment, leading practitioners to take unnecessary risks in the name of perceived bravery.Instead of glorifying paramedics as superhuman, Radu urges society to recognise them as dedicated professionals who deserve proper support, fair working conditions, and respect for their boundaries. He concludes that true appreciation lies not in idolising paramedics but in acknowledging the reality of their role, ordinary people performing extraordinary, often difficult tasks with compassion and competence every day. You can read the blog here: https://theparamedicphilosopher.substack.com/p/paramedics-arent-heroes-and-its-timeThis episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we explore one of the most powerful yet often misunderstood drivers of excellence in emergency medicine: the culture of clinical leadership. From the early evolution of paramedicine to today’sIn complex, multidisciplinary systems, leadership has never been just about titles or hierarchy; it’s about influence, mindset, and the ability to create environments where individuals and teams can perform at their very best.Joining me is Andy Bell, Deputy Director of Paramedicine at St John WA, an internationally recognised educator, clinician, and advocate for evidence-based leadership development. Andy has spent years shaping how we think about high-performance clinical frameworks, embedding human factors, and challenging the fixed thinking that can hold emergency response teams back.Together, we’ll unpack the historical context, the challenges and barriers to success, and the practical steps needed to build a culture where clinical leadership thrives. Whether you’re a student paramedic, a team leader, or an experienced clinician, this episode will give you actionable insights to strengthen your leadership mindset and help build the next generation of high-performing, compassionate, and adaptive clinical teams.This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this episode, we discuss an article by Dr. Sarah Spelsberg titled “HOCUS POCUS, the Magic of Point of Care Ultrasound in Remote and Rural Medicine.” The piece explores the transformative impact of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in austere, remote, and rural healthcare environments, with a particular focus on the Butterfly Ultrasound device.Dr. Spelsberg outlines the persistent barriers to wider POCUS adoption, including limitations around funding, access to equipment, and adequate training. She then shares her personal journey of fundraising to secure a Butterfly device for her clinic in Unalaska, Alaska, highlighting the practical realities of delivering frontline care in isolated settings.Through a series of powerful clinical case examples, the article demonstrates how POCUS enabled early and accurate diagnoses of serious conditions such as pneumonia, an acute myocardial infarction, and cholecystitis—situations where access to advanced imaging was not available. These cases underscore the device’s role in improving diagnostic confidence, expediting care, and directly influencing patient outcomes.Dr. Spelsberg concludes that POCUS is intuitive, accessible, and an essential tool for clinicians working in remote and rural medicine. Its use not only improves patient care but can also help avoid unnecessary, costly, and high-risk medical evacuations.The original blog post can be found here:https://roguemed.medium.com/hocus-pocus-the-magic-of-point-of-care-ultrasound-in-remote-and-rural-medicine-96465b0ba700This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

Today on the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most critical and often misunderstood areas of pre-hospital care: defibrillation and the future of cardiac arrest management. We’re all familiar with the mantra of “shock early,” but how much of what we believe about defibrillation is grounded in evidence, and how much is myth carried forward through tradition and training?To help us separate fact from fiction, I’m joined by Michael Heller, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer for Corpuls, a company at the forefront of resuscitation technology. Michael brings a unique perspective, not just from the engineering and innovation side, but also from working closely with clinicians worldwide to understand what truly makes a difference at the roadside.In this conversation, we’ll explore the enduring myths of defibrillation, the technologies shaping the next generation of devices, and how data, AI, and post–cardiac arrest strategies could redefine survival over the next five years. This is about challenging assumptions, sharpening our practice, and looking ahead to what’s possible in saving lives. You can find out more about Corpuls here: https://corpuls.world/en/

Welcome to Best of 2025, Part 2. This collection of episodes reflects some of the most meaningful, challenging, and quietly powerful conversations of the year, the ones that sit at the intersection of clinical excellence, emotional labour, and human experience.We begin with After Death: Understanding Grief in Pre-Hospital Care with Liz Gleeson, Part 2. This episode gave language to something many clinicians carry but rarely articulate: the weight of loss, the presence we hold for families after life has ended, and the cumulative impact that grief has on those working on the frontline. It was a reminder that what happens after death matters just as much as the care delivered before it.From there, we move into one of the most high-stakes scenarios in medicine with Paediatric Cardiac Arrest featuring Paul Banerjee, Paediatric Series Part 3. This conversation explored not only the clinical complexities and time-critical decision-making involved, but also the emotional intensity of managing cardiac arrest in children, and the importance of preparation, teamwork, and reflection in some of the most difficult calls we face.The focus then shifts to leadership, representation, and culture with Women in Critical Care: The Journey, Challenges, and Successes in HEMS with Sophie MacDougall, GWAAC Series Part 2. This episode highlighted the realities of working in high-performance, high-pressure environments, the barriers that still exist, and the progress being made. It was an honest and necessary discussion about inclusion, mentorship, and what strong, compassionate leadership looks like in modern critical care.We then turn to one of the most urgent issues facing pre-hospital services with Suicide Prevention on the Frontline, Mental Health Part 2. This episode addressed the role clinicians play not only in crisis intervention, but in recognising risk, having difficult conversations, and understanding our own emotional responses. It reinforced the idea that suicide prevention is not confined to mental health services; it is part of everyday frontline care.We close Part 2 with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: The Condition We Often Miss. This conversation challenged assumptions, highlighted diagnostic blind spots, and reminded us that not all chest pain fits the patterns we expect. It was a powerful example of how listening carefully, maintaining curiosity, and questioning heuristics can directly change patient outcomes.Taken together, these episodes reflect the depth and diversity of modern pre-hospital and emergency care, from grief to resuscitation, from equity and leadership to mental health and diagnostic precision. They are conversations that stayed with many of you long after the episode ended. Thanks again to PAX Bags, our long-term sponsor of the podcast. Best-in-class medical bags from PAX can be found here: https://www.pax-bags.com/en/