Outback ER gives a taste of healthcare in the bush

Feb. 12, 2015, noon

In remote Broken Hill the medical staff use their wits to remedy any manner of injury.

Dr Andrew Olesnicky picture supplied.

According to Dr Andrew Olesnicky hospital emergency departments are like snowflakes all different.

As the Director of Emergency Services at Broken Hill Base Hospital, Olesnicky believes his ED is possibly the most unique in Australia.

Outback ER, a new 8-part series, focuses on what sets the Broken Hill ED apart including how different a life-threatening crisis can be in one of the most isolated locations in the country.

Taking in the Broken Hill Base Hospital, The Royal Flying Doctors Service and the NSW Ambulance service, the series showcases what happens in emergency situations without the resources of a big hospital.

While we treat cowboys we dont want to be cowboys." - Andrew Olensicky

Our ED is small. We dont have huge staff numbers so wouldnt be able to move to a big disaster easily. We are away from 24/7 specialist care so if a patient needs a higher level of specialist care they need to be shipped out to Adelaide, Olensicky says.

The ED at the Broken Hill Base hospital. picture supplied

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Outback ER gives a taste of healthcare in the bush