A PAHO official has pointed to several weaknesses in Dominica’s response to emergencies.
Peter Burgess, an emergency response expert, told a group of 54 emergency personnel who received training recently that one weak point in the island’s response to emergency is accountability.
“I have a concern with how emergency personnel account for patients. You have tourist coming to the island and with everybody looking for a financial gain. If you make a mistake you will be sued,” he said at ceremony which concluded a two-week training course. “There has to be a clear level of handing over and taking over a patient between the hospital staff and the EMS staff responding.”
He also pointed out that in Dominica there is a lack of standard procedures and established protocols for handling emergencies.“You need to have standard operating procedures. It is important that you do have established protocol and that it is implemented,” he said. “There needs to be a better dialogue between the hospital staff and the EMS staff from the fire department bringing patients in. We all have to work together, there has to be that multi-sectorial approach to training and rescuing.”
PAHO representative Shirley Augustine, said emphasis should be placed on documentation, pointing out that emergency responders should document the condition in which they received the patient and the patient’s condition when they are delivered.
She added that this training will significantly improve the need for improvement in the care received by patients when they are being transported from the scene of the accident to the hospital.
One participant of the training, Magdalene Alexander said that despite the challenges of the course, it was an important and enjoyable one which came at the right time.
“This workshop was quite timely especially now we are in the hurricane season. The information was new but it was challenging. We understood our roles as district nurses and hospital staff better,” she said. “We learnt triaging where we have to ensure that clients who have high survival rate, get the priority treatment. This generated a lot of discussion. We also learnt about stabilising our patients, preparation for disaster, knowing our resources, and teamwork.”
Our investment should b in healthcare training and not a stupid palace. Everyone seriously ill has to b flown out of island for treatment and dis represent those who can afford to do so. Just too poor. Its almost like death is accepted even for those who r not in a life threatening situation just bcause healthcare professionals are lackin basic survival skills.
That didn’t surprise me at all….have being visiting Dominica for a number of years and they are not a island which embraces protocol and standards..
Mr.Owen Arthur Former Prime Minister of Barbados was conducting a survey and stated a few moons back that Dominica was not ready for OECS integration and that was.
(FACTUAL) and still remains in place…
Also heard a statement by one of their deceased Prime Minister stating that his citizens wear their ignorance as a badge of honour…
Maybe that’s why they rated the Poorest in the Eastern Caribbean, and highlighting a Headless Regime.
If you have something to say you are free to call the morning talk show. All of this and that for a PAHO recommendation has its agenda.
Caricom traveller I would like to have a discussion about face with you. All you have said is ” heresy”. You have not given one fact! OECS integration has been shot down by he likes of PM’s like Barbados, Who for the most part do not want our TALENTED AND EDUCATED workers to compete with them! Dominicans are some of the brightest and intelligent people in the world. So keep your comments to yourself!
Cecil could have told us that!
Good job PAHO, I hope you tell them emergency is as it spells e-mer-gen-cy. RESPOND FAST and SENSIBLE
Effective communication can achieved though CONTINUOUS training. We cannot afford to wait until the arrival of the hurricane season to implement training programs for staff. I think all emergency staff (including doctors) should receive rigorous training at least every 4-6 months. Real Talk
You all could of asked me,no need to go to PAHO.SEND A SOS TO CECIL SHILLINGFORD ASAP TO GET HIM BACK.
Once again it takes someone from the outside to tell us what we know! Cecil could have definitely done that!
If you make a mistake you will be sued”, according to the report.
I commend this important step toward patient[human] safety; nevertheless, the main concern here should not be fear of being sued, but the highest regard for human life. This should be first and foremost.
really in need of improvement on emergency response in dominica, am not sayin they not doin a good job already, but there’s always need for improvement
One of the best system in the world is lacking fundamentals. Weh papa
Some thing I brought to the CMO back in the early 90’s it over a decade an a half and they still don’t get it.
LIke Sparrow say in the region and more so DA: “We like it so.” Mighty Sparrow.
It is quite visible in our attitude on political and social issues. More our elected members screw up the more we bury our heads in the sand.
Look at the land transfer issue, the Bin bobol, the the fire bombing, to name a few more prominent issues of late. we bury our heads inthe sand and facilitate the evil doers stay in office dispite corruption any blind person has no problem seeing.
Great training indeed!