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Australian mobile intensive care ambulances (MICA) are well-equipped ambulances staffed by highly trained paramedics dispatched to emergency situations where patients require a higher level of care than a regular ambulance can provide.
MICA paramedics are extremely highly trained and experienced medical professionals. As with all Australian and New Zealand paramedics they hold either an advanced diploma of health science (paramedic) (which can be converted to a degree level by off-campus studies), or other recognised bachelor's degree, and then do extra study to the MICA level.
MICA paramedics must also complete a graduate diploma in emergency healthcare. This requires concurrent employment with ambulance services in a clinical role and at least two years post-qualification experience as a paramedic in the service. While also working as a paramedic the student must complete a year’s worth of course work on advance emergency health. Paramedics may also choose to complete a Masters in Emergency Health (paramedic). However, this focuses more on research, emergency services management and community health rather than frontline clinical care.
Working as a paramedic, whether it be MICA or ALS (advanced life support), can be extremely emotionally taxing.
During the course of a day's work, paramedics will go through a lot of medical supplies to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. Standard equipment that paramedics use include:
MICA paramedics may also use:
MICA paramedics crew a range of vehicles depending on their mission.
In Victoria, MICA Paramedic teams are equipped with modified versions of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter. In the metropolitan area of Melbourne, the changes from the models used by advanced life support (ALS) paramedic Team are to accommodate equipment unique to MICA. In Regional Victoria, the same Mercedes Sprinter is used whether it be as a MICA or an ALS vehicle. Often an ALS and a MICA paramedic work as a rostered crew (PRU).
In addition to 2-paramedic crew MICA ambulance, a number of MICA single responder units (SRU) are located within central metropolitan areas and regional areas. MICA single responders are equipped with a range of vehicles including Holden Adventra 4WD wagons and Ford Territory vehicles.
In rural and regional settings, time sensitive patients are treated and transported either by advanced life support paramedics (ALS) and/or mobile intensive care paramedics with support by helicopter based MICA paramedics. MICA paramedics often are requested to support ALS paramedics when dealing with a sick patient as a 'back-up' crew.
CSO (Clinical Support Officer), who provide additional support to ALS crews, are also often MICA trained.
In addition to the primary response vehicles above, the NSW Service also operates specialised vehicles that have been designed to meet geographical and operational requirements, including:
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A nontransporting EMS vehicle is a vehicle that responds to and provides emergency medical services (EMS) without the ability to transport patients. For patients whose condition requires transport, an ambulance is necessary. In some cases they may fulfill other duties when not participating in EMS operations, such as policing or fire suppression.
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NSW Ambulance, previously the Ambulance Service of NSW, is an agency of NSW Health and the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
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Since 1 July 2008, Ambulance Victoria has been the sole provider of emergency ambulance services in Victoria, having been formed from the merger of the three previous providers of emergency ambulance services: the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS).
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Ambulance Victoria (AV), a Victorian agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the statutory provider of pre-hospital emergency care and ambulance services in Victoria. Ambulance Victoria was formed on 1 July 2008 with the merger of the Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV), and the Alexandra District Ambulance Service (ADAS). Ambulance Victoria has undergone significant reform since 2008.
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https://web.archive.org/web/20070428083614/http://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/what/fleet.html
http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/
MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE AMBULANCE A SERVICE IN CRISIS Report on results of MICA Survey 2006. A report Prepared by Ambulance Employees Australia - Victoria