HEMS Debrief - Retrieval and Pre-Hospital Medicine #5. Dr Matt Hooper - Emergency Last Aid

G'day, and welcome back.

In today's episode, we are delighted and privileged to be joined by South Australia's Dr Matt Hooper.

The practice of medicine - including pre-hospital medicine - often focuses on life preservation. But, as acute care clinicians we often also find ourselves caring for patients at the end of their life. Too, we find ourselves caring for their relatives and loved ones, and the wider medical team. It can be really challenging to provide this care in such an acute, unexpected and unstable setting - so how do we do it, how do we stabilise the moment and continue to deliver compassionate care?

This is the work of Dr Matt Hooper, who together with colleagues has created the 'emergency last aid' program - designed to teach the foundational skills needed to deliver compassionate end-of-life care in high-pressure environments. Drawing on his experience as a pre-hospital, intensive care and palliative care physician, Matt talks us through his approach to these challenging, rewarding circumstances. 

Before listening to this episode, please ensure it is the right episode for you: talking about death, dying and grief can be triggering for some, so please ensure that this episode is what you need, at the right time, and that you have support around you. 

Part two coming soon, chat then.