Trauma reception and resuscitation in Sri Lanka: The Health for the South Capacity‐Building project

Abstract

In response to the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the Health for the South project, Capacity-Building programme was implemented in Galle, Sri Lanka. The objectives of the Capacity-Building programme were to develop the emergency and trauma service capability at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya in Galle. Over 15 months, ED clinicians, from the Alfred Hospital and Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, provided training in the Emergency Treatment Unit of the main referral hospital for the south of Sri Lanka. This programme, completed in June 2008, significantly improved the hospital's ability to conduct trauma resuscitation, and to attain an increased level of disaster preparedness. In addition, valuable lessons were noted that will guide future initiatives in trauma care training in similar contexts.

Delivering emergency and trauma care in Sri Lanka in 2017 – a decade of change and leadership by the Emergency Treatment Unit of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya

“…Regular and detailed pre-and post-program monitoring and evaluation was conducted across the whole of the Capacity-Building Component (7 years) of the Health for the South Project, the results of which have been detailed elsewhere 4,16 . A summary of the key developments, which reflect the gaps and objectives identified at the commencement of the program, are as follows 17 : …”

The dawn of emergency medicine in Vietnam

“…The need for translation required careful attention to programme timing, simple delivery, emphasis on key messages, staggered panel discussions, and an acceptance that some information would be lost. Countries embarking on the development of EM are often yet to appreciate the importance of team, in particular between doctors and nurses, and this was evident in Hue 11,12 . Similarly they might not appreciate the merits of a horizontal approach, as represented by the primary survey (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, etc.…”

“…Hue is neither the capital nor the largest city in Vietnam and so formalizing EM there might not catalyse a rapid spread of the specialty. Nevertheless, representatives from throughout the country were present and it was noted that the development of EM in some countries has initially occurred outside the more conservative major tertiary centres 12–14 …”

International emergency medicine: Building on a strong information‐sharing foundation

“…Emergency medicine (EM) is spreading globally, starting as a recognized need in new territories and progressing to an official specialty 1–7 . A growing number of emergency physicians (EPs) trained in mature systems are supporting the international development of EM 8–18 . In the USA and Australia with their mature EM systems, international EM (IEM) is expanding as a defined area of interest, as individuals aspire to assist others 8–10,15,19 .…”

“…In the USA and Australia with their mature EM systems, international EM (IEM) is expanding as a defined area of interest, as individuals aspire to assist others 8–10,15,19 . In Australia over the last 5 years, the number of emergency doctors involved in IEM, and the frequency and duration of their engagements have increased 5–7,16–19 . Expansion of interest and opportunities has led to the building of structured EM programmes in some neighbouring countries, 2,3 and have generated publications 4,5,7,19 …”