To LifeFlight critical care doctor Katja Jansen, nothing is more rewarding than helping people.
Having previously worked in aeromedicine, Dr Jansen said the opportunities and adventure that come with the role were too good to only experience once.
“Being here, every day is different and you really have the opportunity to treat patients in both rural and metro areas, which just keeps the job really rewarding,” Dr Jansen said.
“LifeFlight gives me the opportunity to work alongside highly skilled individuals, which has always been a big draw to me as an emergency physician.
“I think it’s the best job there is.”
Dr Jansen is one of 30 doctors about to take flight to help communities across Queensland and beyond after completing rescue-ready training in Brisbane.
Originally from the Netherlands, she said living and working in Australia had given her life balance.
“I get to do a job that I really love where I feel like I’m making a difference in those critical moments when people might be experiencing the worst moment of their lives,” Dr Jansen said.
“I also get to be surrounded by beautiful nature and people. I’ve really loved Australia, which is why I obviously haven’t returned home.”
Dr Jansen will join Dr Abigail Field, Dr Christopher Davis, Dr Hazel Peckham, Dr Jessica Stenberg, Dr Alesandra Stepanko and Dr Sacha Wynter at the LifeFlight Brisbane base.
She completed a week of intensive aeromedical training at the LifeFlight Training Academy in Brisbane in preparation for the new role.
The program put the new doctors to the test through clinical scenarios, winching, Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) and sea survival, helping ensure they are rescue ready from day one.
During HUET, the retrieval registrars were taken through multiple scenarios simulating a helicopter crash into water and how to safely exit the aircraft.
LifeFlight HUET Manager Mick Dowling said the specialist training gave doctors necessary skills to work safely on board a helicopter.
“Our mission is to have the doctors skilled with the confidence to be able to deal with any aviation situation that they may be faced with,” he said.
“The common response we get from them after the completion is that it was challenging and uncomfortable, but overall, an amazing experience.
“It’s highly unlikely the aircraft will be required to be ditched into the water; however, all crew are trained should they face that situation.”
After being tumbled upside down through the water and learning how to survive out on the open water, the doctors were taken through winching procedures.
LifeFlight Deputy Chief Aircrew Officer Todd Seymour said the winch training prepared them for the unpredictability of the role.
“The doctors learn multiple exercises. They learn how to be winched out of the aircraft by themselves, how to be winched out of the aircraft with a rescue crewman or paramedic and learn how to accompany a stretcher into the aircraft,” he said.
“They’re going to remote areas across Queensland, and they could be in dense bushland or out to sea off a cruise ship, so it’s important they’re delivered the training they need to perform these roles to a high and safe standard.
“No two days are the same for us at LifeFlight.”
The doctors also had their clinical skills pushed to the limit at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy, where they responded to realistic, simulated scenarios including a multi-vehicle collision.
Queensland Fire Department (QFD) personnel also taught the new recruits how to safely extricate a patient from a road accident.
LifeFlight is the largest employer of aeromedical doctors in the country with more than 180 medical professionals.
The Brisbane-based aeromedical crew helped 1,535 people across the rotary and fixed wings in the past financial year.
LifeFlight came to the aid of 8,982 people in the past year – helping nearly six per cent more people than the previous year.
The majority of LifeFlight critical care doctors’ work is performed on behalf of Queensland Health, with missions tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland within Queensland Ambulance Service.
