Clinical Practice Radio (CPR)
Clinical Practice Radio (CPR) is the first public podcast from St John WA, created by clinicians for clinicians. Each episode explores a range of clinical and management topics grounded in the latest evidence-based research, often featuring subject matter experts who share their insights. The show is hosted by St John WA Deputy Director of Paramedicine Andy Bell, alongside Clinical Leads Megan Currie and Nick Overington.
Episodes
Regional Trauma Case Study – Applying MARCHE when it matters (S2 Ep7)
Recorded live in front of an audience, this special episode of Clinical Practice Radio puts trauma principles into practice through a regional case study.
The team is joined by St John WA Rural and Remote Clinical Development Lead Ben O'Regan to work through the case using the MARCHE principles, exploring assessment, clinical priorities and decision-making as the scenario unfolds.
The conversati
Pre-Hospital Emergency Anaesthesia – Preparation before intubation (S2 Ep6)
Pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia is about far more than intubation. In this episode, the team is joined by St John WA Critical Care Paramedic Cornell Greyling to explore the preparation, teamwork and clinical decision-making that underpin one of the most complex interventions in pre-hospital care.
Together, they discuss when pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia is indicated, how understanding pati
Extended Care Paramedicine: Delivering the right care, in the right place (S2 Ep5)
Delivering the right care doesn't always mean transporting every patient to hospital.
In this episode, the team is joined by St John WA Extended Care Paramedic Lead Pat O'Dal to explore how Extended Care Paramedics are helping patients receive safe, appropriate care in the community. Together they discuss the growing role of extended care paramedicine, the additional training and clinical skills
Palliative Care: More than end-of-life care (S2 Ep4)
In this episode, the team is joined by St John WA Extended Care Paramedic Lead Pat O'Dal to explore the role of palliative care in paramedicine and the broader health system.
They discuss what palliative care really means, challenging the common misconception that it is simply end-of-life care. The conversation focuses on providing patient-centred care, supporting quality of life, and understandi
Fit for Duty: Strength, recovery and performance (S2 Ep3)
In this episode, the team explores what it really means to be “fit for duty” and why physical health is so important for first responders.
Joined by paramedic and personal trainer Mark Henderson, they discuss the physical demands of the role, from long periods of inactivity to sudden high‑intensity tasks like lifting and carrying patients, and how this can increase the risk of injury if you’re not
Resilience: Building it before you need it (S2 Ep2)
In this episode of Clinical Practice Radio (CPR), the team unpacks what resilience really means for paramedics and other first responders working in high‑pressure environments. They explore why resilience is not a fixed trait, but something that needs to be built, maintained and regularly reassessed across both work and personal life.
They discuss how factors like sleep, nutrition, relationships a
Crush Injury: Recognising the hidden risks (S2 Ep1)
In this first episode of season two, the team explores crush injury and crush syndrome, discussing how these patients present, why they can deteriorate rapidly, and the importance of early recognition in the pre-hospital environment.
The conversation covers the difference between local crush injuries and the wider systemic effects that can occur after extrication, including why long lies and seemi
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 11 - Handovers and Debriefing
In this episode, the team explores two critical but often overlooked parts of pre-hospital care: handovers and debriefing.
They discuss why clear communication shapes patient outcomes, how structured handovers help deliver concise, relevant information, and why preparation and confidence matter in high-pressure environments. The conversation also covers adapting handovers to the patient, setting a
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 10 - Extrication
In this episode, the team explores the evolving approach to patient extrication, with insights from DFES rescue officer Andrew “Strunky” Strunk.
They unpack the evidence behind the Extrication in Trauma (EXIT) project, challenging long-held practices, particularly the low incidence of spinal cord injury, and the shift away from movement minimisation toward faster, patient-focused extrication.
A pr
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 9 - Burns
In this episode, the team turns their focus to major burns, one of the most complex and confronting presentations in pre-hospital care.
They discuss what defines a major burn, the systemic cascade that follows large TBSA injuries, and key priorities including early cooling, analgesia, fluid management, airway considerations, hypothermia prevention and transport decisions.
A practical refresher for
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 8 - Myth Busting
In this episode, the team tackles some of the most enduring myths in emergency medical services and asks a simple question: are we still doing things because they work, or because it’s how they’ve always been done?
Topics include analgesia and pain management, soft tissue injuries and the RICE principle, oxygen use in COPD patients, ketamine and haemodynamic effects, tourniquet use, and other
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 7 - Mass Casualty Incidents
In this episode, the team takes a deep dive into Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) — one of the most complex and confronting scenarios in pre-hospital care.
They explore what truly defines an MCI, why early recognition and declaration using tools like METHANE is critical, and how structured command and communication can bring order to chaotic scenes.
The team also breaks down modern triage approaches
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 6 - Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
In this episode, the team is joined by Jason Belcher, Resuscitation Improvement Specialist at St John WA, to explore what makes the biggest difference in surviving an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA).
With a background in paramedicine, research and education, Jason’s work focuses on strengthening the entire chain of survival, from community recognition and bystander CPR through to high-perfor
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 5 - ECG in Syncope
In this episode, the team is joined by Greta Hammer, a Clinical Lead Paramedic, to unpack red flag ECG findings in syncope.
Greta has a special interest in cardiology and the nuances of ECGs, a passion that began during her years working under a cardiologist here in Perth, before transitioning to her career as a paramedic with St John WA. Since then, she has been involved in educating new paramed
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 4 - STORC
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses birth experiences, including potentially distressing or sensitive content. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode, the team is joined by the incredible Mel Gardiner, a highly experienced paramedic with over 20 years on the road and a passion for improving maternal care in the pre-hospital space. Mel talks through the nuances of maternal assessment,
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 3 - Post-ROSC
In this episode, the team dive into the critical but often under-discussed phase of post-ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) care in non-traumatic adult cardiac arrest. Achieving ROSC is a major win, but it's just the beginning. What comes next can be the difference between survival and meaningful recovery. They break down the essential steps for optimising airway, ventilation, circulation, a
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode 2 - Human Factors
In this episode, the team unpack the vital topic of human factors—the skills and attributes beyond the technical that shape effective clinical performance. They explore how elements like situational awareness, communication, stress management, and decision-making influence paramedic practice in unpredictable environments. The conversation dives into the cognitive load faced on scene, how preparati
Clinical Practice Radio - Episode One - Penetrating Trauma
In this episode, the team dives into the high-acuity, low-occurrence world of penetrating trauma, a critical but often under-practiced area in pre-hospital care. They explore how limited exposure can impact clinical confidence —and discuss how cognitive overload can affect approaches during major trauma situations.
The conversation introduces the “STAB-5” approach, a UK-based system designed to gu
