Paramedic Ben’s ASM for leading change

Blood transfusion is often cited as a major medical advancement of the First World War, and while that paraphrases the real story of its development, it’s true to say that desperate times call for desperate measures which sometimes bring about revolutionary change.

And that’s been the case in the Victorian ambulance service, especially in recent years, with some incredibly successful developments in clinical practice in areas including the treatment of trauma patients, heart attack, asthma and strokes, much of it initiated by the paramedics themselves, that have saved many lives or secured the quality of life for others.

New Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) recipient, Ben Meadley of Leongatha, has had a key role to play in some of those advancements.

And it is in recognition of this that he was named among the illustrious group receiving national recognition on Australia Day.

“I’ve worked with the helicopter service out of the Latrobe Valley over the past 14 years, so I’ve attended a lot of callouts in South Gippsland and Bass Coast,” said Ben this week.

“Along the way, I’ve done a lot of work with our medical advisory committee and clinical practice committee in developing our guidelines.”

Among the major advancements have been the use of ultrasound and also the use of blood products with trauma patients and surgical procedures to treat chest injuries.

Through his own experiences and that of his fellow team members, Ben has been able to take some of those findings forward as initiatives to be considered by the medical advisory committee before being introduced into the clinical practice guidelines.

“At the moment, I am working on process improvement with Ambulance Victoria but I’m also still part time on the helicopter service as well.

“It’s an amazing team environment and it’s one of the great privileges I have, to be able to work with a team like that”.

Dr Benjamin Meadley commenced his career as an Ambulance Community Officer in Anglesea in 1998, before taking up a paramedic position with Ambulance Service New South Wales in Sydney in 1999. He returned to work as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria in 2003.

And it was his interest in cycling, as well as his wife’s family connections with South Gippsland, that saw the family move to Leongatha.

“My wife’s family comes from Toora North, but it was coming to Leongatha every year to ride in the annual cycling carnival that I really got to know Leongatha and wanted to move here.

“We’re also involved in the Waratah Beach Surf Lifesaving Club where the kids do Nippers.”
Training as a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic in 2004 and 2005, he worked extensively across Melbourne, undertaking clinical instructor and acting MICA team manager roles, before joining Air Ambulance Victoria as a MICA Flight Paramedic in 2009. He currently holds the position of MICA Improvement Lead.

Throughout his career he has maintained a keen focus on the education and wellbeing of paramedics, which led him to undertake his PhD; investigating the cardiometabolic and physiological health of Australian paramedics.
This first of its kind research was a catalyst for Monash University launching its Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, which continues to invest in research and projects to improve the health and wellbeing of the paramedic workforce.
He has been a driving force of innovation in the education of paramedics, with a long history of academic association through Monash University, where he helped re-design the Postgraduate Intensive Care Program.

This has been operationally reflected in the GippSIM Program, which brings simulation access to a wide range of staff across regional Victoria.

As a MICA Flight Paramedic with a specialty in clinical ultrasound to support practice, he has been instrumental in the advanced practice of the MICA Flight Paramedic cohort, and driven forward programs related to mechanical ventilation, ultrasound guided vascular access and lung/heart/abdomen assessment, surgical airway, and use of blood products.

He is a leader who is actively sought out for his opinion and advice. During his 24-year career in the sector, and 19 years at Ambulance Victoria, Dr Meadley has made a significant and distinguished contribution to Ambulance Victoria and the community which he serves.