Staff profile

Professor Peter O'Meara FPA

Professor of Rural and Regional Paramedicine, Head of Department

Faculty of Health Sciences

La Trobe Rural Health School
Department of Paramedical Studies

Health Sciences, Room 1.17, Bendigo

 

Qualifications

BHA, MPP, PhD

Membership of professional Associations

Paramedics Australasia, International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine, International Paramedic, World Association of Emergency Medicine, EMS Chiefs of Canada.

Area of study

Paramedicine

Brief Profile

Dr Peter O’Meara is the Professor of Rural and Regional Paramedicine and Head of the Paramedicine Department of the LaTrobe Rural Health School in Bendigo where a new paramedic team has been established.

Professor O’Meara’s research has focused on the delivery of ambulance services in rural Australia and the development of paramedic extended scope-of-practice roles. His emerging research interest is focused on the professional identity and regulation of paramedics as an emerging health profession. He has successfully supervised or co-supervised seven higher degree students to completion, and contiues to co-supervise students at Charles Sturt University in a number of disciplinary areas.

Professor O'Meara is keen to supervise new students undertaking doctoral studies at La Trobe University. Paramedics interested in rural health and health policy are particularly encouraged to consider undertaking research degrees through the La Trobe Rural Health School under his supervision.

Professor O’Meara has extensive national and international links in the paramedic field. He is an Expert Assessor for the Australian research Council, and is a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care, the International Journal of Paramedic Practice and the Journal of Paramedic Practice. He is an active and engaged member of Paramedics International, Paramedics Australasia and the International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine. He is also an associate member of the Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada and has held honorary professorial appointments at both Charles Sturt University and Coventry University.   

Research interests

Health Services and policy reform

- Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance); Rural Health (Community engagement, Workforce)

Rural and Regional Health

- Community Participation, Rural Health Workforce

Teaching Units

HLT2IEP Integrating Evidence into Practice.

PHE3BRH Rural Health

 

Recent Publications

Books

O’Meara, P & Grbich, C. (Editors) 2009 Paramedics in Australia: contemporary challenges of practice. Pearson Publishing. Sydney. ISBN 9781442509115. Buy the Book from the Paramedic Shop. http://paramedicshop.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=511&osCsid=5mkbepejjtjhsltbqvklrdem31

Book Chapters

O’Meara, P. Furness, S. Education in the Emerging Professions. 2012 J Stephen Loftus, Joy Higgs, Megan Smith, Elaine Duffy and Tania Gerzina (eds.), Practice-Based Education: Perspectives and Strategies. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. [completed 28 February 2012]

O’Meara, P. Paramedic Education in Boyd, L. Johnson, M. Archer, F. Grantham, H. 2012 Paramedic Principles and Practice ANZ . Elsevier Australia, Melbourne. [completed 13 December 2011]

Ferguson, L. O’Meara, P. 2011 Management and Leadership in Curtis, Kate. Ramsden, Claire. Lord, Bill. (Ed). Emergency and Trauma Care. Mosby Elsevier, Sydney. ISBN: 9780729539821.

Higgs, J. Pope, R. Kent, J. O’Meara, P. Allan, J. 2010 Chapter 8, University Clinics: Practice and Education Dimensions in McAllister L, Paterson M, Higgs J, Bithell C, Innovations in Allied Health Fieldwork Education: A Critical Appraisal. Sense Publishers. Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ISBN 978-94-6091-321-1.

O’Meara, P. Grbich, C. 2009 Introduction Chapter in O’Meara, P & Grbich, C. (Editors) Paramedics in Australia: contemporary challenges of practice. Pearson Publishing. Sydney. ISBN 9781442509115.

Stirling, C. O’Meara, P. Chapter 3, Paramedic practice in rural and regional Australia in O’Meara, P & Grbich, C. (Editors) 2009 Paramedics in Australia: contemporary challenges of practice. Pearson Publishing. Sydney. ISBN 9781442509115.

Peer Reviewed Articles

Williams, B. Boyle, M. Brightwell, R. McCall, M. McMullen, P. Munro, G. O’Meara, P. 2012 A cross-sectional study of paramedics' readiness for interprofessional learning and cooperation: Results from five universities. Nurse Education Today. [accepted 3 July 2012]

Williams, B. Boyle, M. Brightwell, R. Devenish, S. Hartley, P. McCall, M. McMullen, P. Munro, G. O’Meara, P. Webb, V. 2012 Paramedic Empathy Levels: Results from Seven Universities. International Journal of Emergency Services. 1: 2 (Date online 31/6/2012). http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=2047-0894&volume=1&issue=2&articleid=17047324&show=abstract&PHPSESSID=4vf1n5fm33v43qv8mdpoekd5l6

Williams, B. Boyle, M. Brightwell, R. Devenish, S. Hartley, P. McCall, M. McMullen, P. Munro, G. O’Meara, P. Webb, V.2012 An Assessment of Undergraduate Paramedic Students’ Empathy Levels: A Multi-Institutional Study. International Journal of Medical Education. 3: 98-102. http://www.ijme.net/archive/3/paramedic-empathy-levels.pdf

O’Meara, P. Tourle, V. Stirling, C. Walker, J. Pedler, D. 2012 Extending the Paramedic role in rural Australia: a story of flexibility and innovation. Rural and Remote Health. 12(1978). http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1978 Impact Factor: 0.931.

Gregory, P. Woollard, M. Lighton, D. Munro, G. Jenkinson, E. Newcombe, RG. O'Meara, P. Hamilton, L. 2012 Malleable stylet vs. re-useable and disposable bougies by paramedics in a model of difficult intubation: a randomised cross-over trial. Anaesthesia. Jan 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06999.x. [Epub ahead of print] Impact Factor: 3.008.

O’Meara, P. Tourle, V. Rae, J. 2012 Factors influencing the successful integration of ambulance volunteers and first responders into ambulance services. Health and Social Care in the Community. Article first published online: 8 Feb 2012, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01055.x Impact factor: 1.008.

O’Meara, P. 2012 Approaches to Inter-Agency Communication at Natural and Other Disasters. Domain3 Journal of the National Association of EMS Educators. Winter 2012: 16-21.

Woollard, M. Poposki, J. McWhinnie, B. Rawlins, L. Munro, G. & O’Meara, P. 2011 Achy Breaky Machy Wakey Heart? A Randomised Cross-over trial of musical prompts. Emergency Medicine Journal doi:10.1136/emermed-2011-200187 Impact Factor: 1.269.

Parsons, V. O’Brien, L. O’Meara, P. 2011 Mental health legislation: an era of change in paramedic clinical practice and responsibility. International Journal of Paramedic Practice. 1(1): 9-16. http://www.internationaljpp.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=86050;article=_1_1_9_16

Allan, J. O’Meara, P. Pope, R. Higgs, J. Kent, J. 2011 Serving inland rural communities through university clinics: Meeting need and demand. Health Education Journal. 70(4) 475-480. doi: 10.1177/0017896911403209. Impact Factor: 0.679.

O’Meara, P. Tourle, V. Madigan, V. Lighton, D. 2011 Getting in Touch with paramedic student career intentions. Health Education Journal. 71(3). doi: 10.1177/0017896911406962. Impact Factor: 0.679.

Allan, J. O’Meara, P. Pope, R. Higgs, J. Kent, J. 2010 The role of context in establishing university clinics. Health and Social Care in the Community. 19(2): 217-224. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2010.00971. Impact factor: 1.008.

O’Meara, P. Acker, J. Munro, G. Menzies, N. Rae, J. Woollard, M. 2010 Enhancing the leadership and management competency of paramedics. Journal of Paramedic Practice. 2(6): 282-284. http://www.paramedicpractice.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=48813;article=pp_2_6_282_284

Devenish, S. O’Meara, P. 2010 The Stories of Sir Neville Howse (VC), Private John Simpson (Kirkpatrick) and Private Martin O’Meara (VC). Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 8(1): Article No. 990400. http://www.jephc.com/full_article.cfm?content_id=560

Williams B, Boyle M, O’Meara P. 2010 Can undergraduate paramedic and nursing students accurately estimate patient age and weight? Prehospital Disaster Medicine 25(2):171–177. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-77954692739&origin=resultslist

Willis, E. Williams, B. Brightwell, R. O’Meara, P. Pointon, T. 2010 Road-ready paramedics and the supporting sciences curriculum. Focus on Health Professional Education. 11(2): 1-13. Impact Factor: 0.882. http://search.informit.com.au/fullText;dn=103581668838354;res=IELHSS

Williams, B. Boyle, M. O’Meara, P. 2009 Can undergraduate paramedic students accurately identify lung sounds? Emergency Medicine Journal On-line 26: 580-582. Impact Factor: 1.347. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-67749099658&origin=resultslist

Mulholland, P. O’Meara, P. Walker, J. Stirling, C. Tourle, V. 2009 Multidisciplinary Practice in Action: The Rural Paramedic – It’s Not Only Lights and Sirens. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 7(2): Article 990312. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-67749098116&origin=resultslist

Rickard, C. McGrail, M. Jones, R. O’Meara, P. Robinson, A. & Burley, M. 2009 Facilitating medical educators to publish: Evaluation of a writing course combined with writers’ support group. Nurse Education Today. 29: 516-521. Impact Factor: 0.708.

Boyle MJ. O'Meara P. 2008 From roadside to hospital: an investigation of the factors influencing the time taken to deliver trauma patients to a regional hospital. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 6(3): Article Number 990205. http://www.jephc.com/full_article.cfm?content_id=488

Woollard, M. Lighton, D. Mannion, W. Watt, J. McCrea, C. Johns, I. Hamilton, L. O'Meara, P. Cotton, C. Smyth, M. 2008 Airtraq versus standard laryngosocopy by experienced pre-hospital laryngoscopists managing a model of difficult intubation: a randomized cross-over trial. Anaesthesia. 63 (1): 26-31. Impact Factor: 3.008. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-36849046763&origin=resultslist

Stirling, C. O’Meara, P. Pedler, D. Tourle, V. Walker, J. 2007 Expanding the Scope of Practice for Rural Health Practitioners: Community Engagement. Rural and Remote Health 7: 839. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-38549162690&origin=resultslist Impact Factor: 0.931.

O’Meara, P. Pendergast, C. Robinson, A. 2007 Grassroots community engagement: the key to success in a community building program. Rural Society. 17(2): 155-164.

O’Meara, P. Walker, J. Stirling, C. Pedler, D. 2007 The rural and regional ambulance paramedic: moving beyond emergency response. National Rural Health Conference Proceedings. March 2007.

Rickard, C. O’Meara, P. McGrail, M. Garner, D. McLean, A. Leleivre, P. 2007 A randomized controlled trial of intranasal fentanyl versus intravenous morphine for prehospital analgesia. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 25(8): 911-917. Impact Factor: 1.994. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-34948854302&origin=resultslist

Woollard, M. Lighton, D. Watt, J. McCrea, C. Hamilton, L. O’Meara, P. Smyth, M. 2007 Use of the Airtraq laryngoscope in a model of difficult intubation by pre-hospital providers not previously trained in laryngoscopy. Anaesthesia. 62: 1061-1065. Impact Factor: 3.008. http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-34548657984&origin=resultslist

Other Publications (2006-2012)

O’Meara, P. 2012 An International Focus on Community Paramedics. Canadian Paramedicine. February/March 2012, 35(2): 49-50. http://www.emsnews.com/magazine/magazine

O’Meara, P. 2011 Community paramedic program for rural and remote areas. Health Matters. September 2011. Victorian Healthcare Association, Melbourne.

O’Meara, P. 2011 [Invited Editorial] The maturation of the paramedic profession through international scholarship. International Journal of Paramedic Practice. 1(2): 2-3. http://www.internationaljpp.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/abstract.html?uid=88182

O’Meara, P. 2011 [Invited Editorial] So how can we frame our identity? Journal of Paramedic Practice. 3(2): 57. http://www.paramedicpractice.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/article.cgi?uid=81811;article=pp_3_2_57

Woollard, M. O’Meara, P. Munro, G. 2010 What price 90 seconds – is Call Connect a disservice to 999 callers? Emergency Medicine Journal. 27(10): 729-730. [Commentary] http://emj.bmj.com/content/27/10/729.full?sid=6ce8efbe-82be-488d-ad32-3b2d4f8ac23d

O’Meara, P. & Schmidt, S. 2009 Rural and Remote – Special Interest Group Kicks Off. Response.36(2): 13.

Willis, E. Pointin, T. O’Meara, P. McCarthy, C. & Lazarsfeld Jensen, A 2009 Paramedic education: developing depth through networks and evidence-based research - Executive Summary. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 7(2): Article Number 990368. http://www.jephc.com/full_article.cfm?content_id=534

O’Meara, P. 2009 [Invited Editorial] Paramedics marching toward professionalism, Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 7(1): Article Number 990339. http://www.jephc.com/full_article.cfm?content_id=511

O’Meara, P. & Munro, G. 2009 Welcome to the Land of the Inukshuk. Response. 35(4): 23-26.

Pope, R. Allan, J. Kent, J. Higgs, J. & O’Meara, P. 2008 Optimising university clinics for clinical education and community care in inland NSW. Charles Sturt University. Wagga Wagga.

Willis, E. Pointon, T. & O’Meara, P. 2008 Paramedic education: developing depth through networks and evidence-based research. Australian Learning & Teaching Council. Discipline-Based Development Initiatives. ISBN 978-0-7258-1132-7 http://www.altc.edu.au/project-paramedic-education-developing-depth-flinders-2007

Older Publications

O’Meara, P. 2005 A generic performance framework for ambulance services: an Australian health services perspective. Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care. 3(3), Article Number: 990132.

O’Meara, P. Kendall, D. Kendall, L. 2004 Working together for a sustainable urgent care system: a Case Study from South Eastern Australia. Rural and Remote Health 4 (on line), no 312. Impact Factor: 0.931.

O’Meara, P. Chesters, J. Han, G. 2004 Outside - Looking In: evaluating a community capacity building project. Rural Society. 14(2): 126-141.

Han, G-S, Wearne, B. O’Meara, P. McGrail, M. Chesters, J. (2003) ‘Medical students’ and GP registrars’ accommodation needs in the rural community: insight from a Victorian study’. Australian Health Review. 26(1): 81-94.

O’Meara. (2003) ‘Would a pre-hospital practitioner model improve patient care in rural Australia?’ Emergency Medicine Journal. 20: 199-203.

O’Meara, P. Strasser, R. (2002) ‘Moe After Hours Medical Service: ‘pillars’ of success’. Australian Health Review. 25(2): 107-117.

O’Meara, P. Burley, M. Kelly, H. (2002) ‘Rural urgent care models: what are they made of?’ Australian Journal of Rural Health. 10: 45-51. Impact factor: 1.070.

O’Meara, P. Strasser, R. Marrow, A. Le Leivre, P. (2001) ‘An integrated approach to the role of the Ambulance Medical Officer in rural Australia’, Pre-hospital Immediate Care. 5(1): 24-26.

O’Meara, P. (2001) ‘Professional and community expectations of rural ambulance services in Australia’, Pre-hospital Immediate Care. 5(1): 27-30.

O’Meara, P. Hall, RH. Strasser, RP. Speck, V. (1998) ‘Developing a funding model for an after-hours primary medical care service in a rural town’, Australian Health Review. 21(3): 104-115.

Research projects

Current Research and Professional Projects

O’Meara, P. Williams, B. Gullery, S. Paramedic clinical placement duration and quality variance: implications for work readiness. Health Workforce Australia. $78,190

O’Meara, P. Walker, J. Pedler, D. Stirling, C. Ruell, M. 2012 Community Paramedics: defining their professional boundaries and measuring their impact. La Trobe University. [observational field study in Ontario, Canada]

Thyer, E. Brooks, P. O’Meara, P. 2011 Reasons why paramedics enter and leave the profession: A mixed methods study. Victoria University. $25,768.

Boyd, L. Archer, F. Brooks, I. Lord, B. Jurkovsky, P. O’Meara, P. Maguire, B. Brightwell, R. Hotchin, L. Mundy, G. 2011 The Australian and New Zealand Paramedic Learning and Teaching Network. Australian Teaching and Learning Council. $110,000.

Williams, B. Boyle, M. Brightwell, R. Devenish, S. Hartley, P. McCall, M. McMullen, P. Munro, G. O’Meara, P. Webb, V. Levels of empathy in paramedic students. 2011. Unfunded. [application being made to Paramedic Australasia for $7,000 in 2012]

Williams, B. Boyle, M. Brightwell, R. Devenish, S. Hartley, P. McCall, M. McMullen, P. Munro, G. O’Meara, P. Webb, V. 2011 Attitude of health care students to interprofessional learning. Victorian Department of Human Services.

O’Meara, P. Townsend, R. & Hamilton, L. Expanded Decision Making in Paramedicine: experience, impact and implications. CSU Competitive Grant. Collaboration with Ambulance Victoria and South Australian Ambulance Service. 2007-$12,000.

O’Meara, P. & Woollard, M. The influence of research on the policy and practice of ambulance services in Britain: lessons for Australian ambulance authorities and paramedics. CSU Special Studies Program. 2009-$10,791. Collaboration with Coventry University and the Ambulance Services Research Network (UK).