Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs)
The CPGs may be implemented provided:
- The Practitioner is in good standing on the PHECC practitioner's Register - Credentialed.
- The Responder maintains current certification as outlined in PHECC Education & Training Standards.
- The Practitioner/Responder is acting on behalf of an organisation (paid or voluntary) that is approved by PHECC to implement the CPGs - Licensed.
- The Practitioner/Responder is authorised by the organisation on whose behalf he/she is acting to implement the specific CPG – Privileged.
- The Practitioner/Responder has received training on, and is competent in, the skills and medications specified in the CPG being utilised.
The aim of pre-hospital emergency care is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to patient care management, thus providing each patient with the most appropriate care in the most efficient time frame.
In Ireland today, the provision of emergency care comes from a range of disciplines and includes responders (Cardiac First Responders, First Aid Responders and Emergency First Responders) and practitioners (Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Advanced Paramedics, Nurses and Doctors) from the statutory, private, auxiliary and voluntary services.
CPGs guide the practitioner in assessment, treatment and disposition of patients who present with an acute illness or injury. CPGs presume no intervention has been applied, nor medication administered, prior to the arrival of the practitioner/responder. In the event of another practitioner or responder initiating care during an acute episode, the practitioner or responder must be cognisant of interventions applied and medication doses already administered and act accordingly.
The Council Policy for implementation time frames of Clinical Practice Guidelines require that within 18 months of release of new CPGs that they are implemented fully.