Models of Ambulance Service Delivery for Rural Australia

This research is a PhD project focusing on Victoria's rural ambulance services. The primary aim is to develop models of ambulance service delivery to stimulate debate about models that may be suitable for rural Australia.

Soft systems methodology is being used to develop models of service delivery that have the potential to operate in rural environments. Research of this nature is iterative; it does not follow the classic literature-hypothesis-conclusion model. The challenge is to develop ambulance service delivery models that strike a balance between access, effectiveness and efficiency. Models already operating are being untangled to identify issues and problem situations, their activities, elements and relationships, while options that are not seen locally are being investigated and assessed for their potential to improve service delivery.

Five overlapping service delivery models based on different worldviews have been developed, each with its own characteristics, transformation processes and performance criteria. The models developed are described as: competitive; sufficing; community; expert; and practitioner. Each model brings its own strengths and weaknesses that are associated with their philosophical underpinnings.