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Emergencies
Heart attack, stroke,
trauma,
gastro-duodenal bleeding, metabolic coma, burns, gut-bowel
obstruction, high fever attack, thermal injuries, anaphylactic shock
, asthma and breathing acute failure, pregnancy complications,
poisoning, insect stings, medical injuries and other, may be common
situations on the island requiring urgent specialist consult, that
is: diagnosis, rapid “decision making” and care, clinical conditions
monitoring, correct and safe transfer to the reference hospital
avoiding any kind of abuse.
The best way to
prevent and “treat” acute complications and emergencies is to
perform a continuous monitoring and screening of resident people
with at risk diseases by means of frequent teleconsult with
specialists . Heart attacks, trauma, strokes, shock, bleeding are
the most common emergencies over the last past years; a better use
of protocols and algorithms in their treatment is perhaps needed:
good references can be found on the Web (see First Aid, Emergencies,
EMS sites) searching for specific key words on Google. When dealing
with emergencies (on the field, at the ambulatory room, during the
patient’s transportation) you should focus your attention on the
rapid “decision making. The use of telecommunications support must
be done with common sense and on the basis of your personal medical
culture and level: telemedicine can be of great help on the field by
means of new mobile telephones (GSM, GPRS, UTTS, Palmar cellular
phone etc). When treating emergencies at the ambulatory room
(Telemedicine Station) you can use the videoconference system as
well as the ordinary telephone lines and Emails ( pictures can be
sent by attachment);this use, however, must not be an obstacle for
your daily medical practice with the patient.
Telemedicine can help
you arrange the transportation. You and your personnel (nurses,
technicians) should be taught how to use the Telemedicine Station
during emergencies (tele-training, simulations): a successful
outcome in these cases depends mostly on the routinely and
“elective” use of the Telemedicine Station . Great importance will
have the relationship with Reference Centers and Consultants. The
Telemedicine Station can be useful also in the treatment of minor
urgent cases, such as injuries, and diseases, dermatology,
ophthalmology, odontostomatology, proctology, “medical injuries
(drugs)” and other specialist diseases; the balance cost/benefit
should be always considered. People and healthcare operators’
reaction to disaster medicine and mass casualties should be planned
as well (see also TIMTEM website index). The importance of health
education and information (in emergency situations above all) should
be stressed organising seminars and training sessions at schools in
remote areas. Unfortunately, all these results have not so far be
achieved ; we are working on the publication of a “First Aid
Handbook” devoted to Telemedicine in remote areas, which may be
supported by a Telematic Course (TIMTEM Italian Team). Basic Life
Supports Courses, BTLS, ATLS for Physicians, Nurses, Technicians,
Students, common people are warmly suggested (with Teletraining as
well).
Special Websites-
First Aid
NAVY (www.vnb.org/Standard_FirstAid/toc.html)
Medicinet (www.medicinet.com)
http://pages.prodigy.net/kansaspatemps/kptbookmarkcurrent.htm
-Course on-line
Pain website
http://www.pain.com/
-Common Emergencies
http://www.ncemi.org/cse/contents.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/Script/Main/Art.asp?li=MNI&ArticleKey=224
-Special for islands
Marine envenomations
http://www.ncemi.org/cse/cse1022.htm
Insect
Stings
http://www.focusonallergies.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=227&rd=1
Webmaster:
V. Paliktzoglou |
