Standards for safe and timely ambulance and emergency care for Victorians

The Standards for Safe and Timely Ambulance and Emergency Care for Victorians (Standards) support practices across Ambulance Victoria and public hospitals so that patients arriving via ambulance receive timely care and paramedics are available to respond to people in the community.

There are 10 Standards, covering both shared and respective responsibilities for hospitals and Ambulance Victoria. The Standards are structured around the patient care journey and outline expectations related to:

• before paramedics transport patients and arrive at hospital,
• the transfer of patient care from a paramedic to hospital staff, and
• the patient experience through an emergency department, and an inpatient ward.

The Standards also focus on organisational leadership and operational processes.

The Department of Health (department) developed the Standards through extensive consultation, including with clinicians, operational staff and health sector leaders across health services and Ambulance Victoria.

Handover of ambulance patients in the Emergency Department

The Protocol for the handover of ambulance patients in the Emergency Department outlines a standardised Ambulance handover process to support the safe and timely transfer of individuals arriving by ambulance to the Emergency.

Timely Emergency Care

The Timely Emergency Care (TEC) program supports Victorian hospitals and Ambulance Victoria to embed the Standards into everyday practice, providing a more consistent approach to delivering safe and high-quality emergency care across the state.

TEC is a statewide initiative supporting hospitals to deliver safer and more timely emergency care for every patient, every time. It strengthens whole-of-hospital flow, reduces delays, and supports earlier recovery at home.

For more information and to download How-to guides to support health services to implement the Standards, see Timely Emergency Care.