ABSTRACT
The barriers to health care delivery in developing nations are many: underfunding, limited support services, scarce resources, suboptimal health care worker attitudes, and deficient health care policies are some of the challenges. The literature contains little information about health care leadership in developing nations. This discursive paper examines the impact of leadership on the delivery of operating room (OR) services in public sector hospitals in Jamaica.Delivery of OR services in Jamaica is hindered by many unique cultural, financial, political, and environmental barriers. We identify six leadership goals adapted to this environment to achieve change. Effective leadership must adapt to the environment. Delivery of OR services in Jamaica may be improved by addressing leadership training, workplace safety, interpersonal communication, and work environment and by revising existing policies. Additionally, there should be regular practice audits and quality control surveys.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Developing Countries , Health Resources , Hospitals, Public , Leadership , Operating Rooms , Public Sector , General Surgery , Goals , Humans , JamaicaABSTRACT
Body packing is one method of smuggling cannabis across international borders. The practice is prevalent in Jamaica. There has been one reported death from this practice in medical literature. We report a second fatal case of cannabis body packing, reinforcing the dangerous nature of this practice.
Subject(s)
Cannabis , Colon, Sigmoid/injuries , Crime , Drug Packaging , Intestinal Perforation/etiology , Travel , Abdominal Abscess/etiology , Abdominal Abscess/pathology , Abdominal Abscess/surgery , Colectomy , Colon, Sigmoid/pathology , Colon, Sigmoid/surgery , Fatal Outcome , Female , Humans , Ileum/injuries , Ileum/pathology , Ileum/surgery , Intestinal Perforation/pathology , Middle Aged , Sepsis/etiology , Urinary Bladder/injuries , Urinary Bladder/pathology , Urinary Bladder/surgeryABSTRACT
Motorcycle Road Traffic Collisions place a heavy burden on emergency medical services in Jamaica. We explore the existing strategies and legislative policies that may prevent or reduce the severity of these injuries in Jamaica. This is an important aspect of health care as it may minimize the impact of these preventable injuries on the limited resources of the health services.
Subject(s)
Accidents, Traffic/legislation & jurisprudence , Emergency Medical Services/legislation & jurisprudence , Motorcycles/legislation & jurisprudence , Primary Prevention/legislation & jurisprudence , Safety/legislation & jurisprudence , Accidents, Traffic/prevention & control , Craniocerebral Trauma/prevention & control , Head Protective Devices , Health Behavior , Humans , Jamaica , Motorcycles/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Body packing is a common method of smuggling cocaine where individuals ingest several drug-filled parcels for transport. When identified by the authorities, body packers are usually taken to hospital for evaluation. There are several points during management of these patients when the health care team may be placed at risk. We explore the hazards encountered during the management of these patients in developing Caribbean nations.
Subject(s)
Cocaine/administration & dosage , Substance-Related Disorders/prevention & control , Caribbean Region , Cocaine/toxicity , Drug Packaging , Health Policy , Humans , Intestinal Obstruction/therapy , Personnel, Hospital/legislation & jurisprudence , Substance-Related Disorders/therapyABSTRACT
Cocaine trafficking is a significant problem that many Caribbean territories must face. "Body packing" is a common method of transport where the smugglers ingest several cocaine filled packages. Body packers may be taken to hospital when they are detained by law enforcement officers, but occasionally they present on their own or accompanied by persons other than the authorities. This scenario poses a difficult management dilemma in any jurisdiction. We describe our experience with one such case in Jamaica.