Integrated Clinical Clerkship in Emergency Medicine AY 2021- 2022

Appropriate and adequate pre-hospital care can improve outcomes for acute life-threatening conditions. For instance, in trauma, cervical stabilization with an actual or makeshift cervical collar can prevent further cervical spine injury while a patient with suspected tension pneumothorax can benefit from an emergency needle thoracostomy. Provision of first aid on wounds and injuries before actual hospital care can also lower the chances of infection. Pre-hospital care also includes availability of patient transport from the place of injury to the hospital. This means that timely transport of patients using functional ambulances or transport vehicles is necessary for timely definitive treatment in the hospital. Since patient transport is influenced by other factors aside from ambulances, the Ambulansyang-de-Paa documentary now brings us to this question: “Does pre-hospital care also concern provision of access roads and availability of trained first-aiders and medications in remote areas?” I believe so. Appropriate and adequate pre-hospital care is only possible not just with a functional ambulance but also with accessible roads, pre-hospital care manpower, and good governance.