Development of the Emergency Medical Services in Barbados - abstract

ABSTRACT

Pre-hospital and emergency department care have improved immensely over the past 15 years in Barbados. In 1976, a medical unit was formed by the Barbados Regiment to assist primarily as responders in a mass casualty/disaster situation. Within 3 weeks of its existence, it was tested during the Air Cubana crash. Today, if requested, the unit is capable of responding urgently to disasters in neighbouring OECS islands. Previous responses include hurricane David in Dominica - 1979, Hugo in Montserrat - 1988, and the volcanic erruption in St, Vincent - 1980. In 1984, the Emergency Ambulance Service was completely reorganized. Among the staff are 45 EMTs trained to the basic level in pre-hospital care. The service deals with about 1,100 cases monthly, 60 per cent of which originate in the St. Michael area. Response times range from about 10 minutes in St. Michael to about 30 minutes in the most distant Parish of St. Lucy. Improved service offered by the Accident and Emergency Department of the Queen Elizabeth has been the most recent development. In July 1990, a modern 22-bed unit was opened, coinciding with the introduction of a post-graduate course in Accident and Emergency Medicine at the Cave Hill Campus of the UWI. The department is equipped with an X-ray unit and modern commuication devices. A computer tracking system will asist in monitoring patient flow and provide, on a regular basis, statistics necessary for Quality Assurance exercises (AU)