News
9th July, 2020
Optima Live moves during COVID19 pandemic
Recently the Victorian Ambulance Union Incorporated (VAU) have received an unprecedented number of complaints about unnecessary moves between branches for coverage of resource gaps as recommended by the Ambulance Victoria (AV) Optima Live program, exacerbated by concerns arising due to COVID-19.
The Optima Live program utilises historical data to predict likely resource gaps. Our members in the communication centres, Duty Managers (DM) and Communication Support Paramedics (CSP) redeploy ambulance resources to cover these resource gaps.
In order to optimise response times and resource coverage, AV routinely move ambulance crews from branch to branch and in doing so increase the contact between staff and increase unnecessary exposure. The Optima Live system may recommend up to 5-8 movements every 15-20 minutes. Many members have reported arriving at branches and finding several crews also there, causing unnecessary contact with colleagues.
Currently, all health service employers are taking steps to avoid unnecessary movement of staff within and between hospitals, wards and campuses to limit the spread of COVID-19. In AV, members who work on road are not permitted to enter communications centres and vice versa.
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a guidance note to health services about minimising the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) as healthcare workers and health service employees move across and within health services.
In short, this note advises that health services and health workers are to minimise their face-to-face contact with other staff when it does not impact provision of quality of care. Health services are advised to also minimise the movements of health service workers outside of their normal workplace (ward areas/ other service areas) to only what is necessary.
The full document can be downloaded HERE:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Kq0nOzh6ishBo3A8PZm0D_XOG63gzFP/view?usp=sharing
The VAU have raised members concerns directly with AV Management and have directly requested that movement between branches be restricted in order to reduce unnecessary contact between staff.
Next Steps
If you are moved to another location, you should respectfully confirm with the Duty Manager if there are other crews present and discuss other options. The VAU advises members to fill out a HSCS and to keep your own record of any Optima Live movements between branches.
Remember, our members who work in the control room have a job to do and have been directed by AV to use the Optima Live system. If you have safety concerns about a DM or CSP direction you should raise the concern with them directly so that they can address the concern
In solidarity