29 September 2003
The accident and emergency (A&E) department at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) may soon do a triage of patients before they register, writes Mandeep Singh.
The A&E consultant, Dr Nabeel Kamaal, said that the proposal pending with the authorities put forward to the concerned might be implemented soon. Triage is a brief clinical assessment to determine the time-order sequence in which patients should be seen in A&E, based on an evaluation of vital signs, the patient’s overall appearance, history of illness or injury and mental status. “We have received the go-ahead and will have the triage behind where the registration desk is, in the next 10 days. Work will commence in a day or two, and the new place will start functioning by the first week of next month,” he said.
Dr Kamaal said that the new location would help monitor the arrival of patients by the triage team. “The team will also be in a position to identify any patients who require immediate attention and can act accordingly. We have to ensure that we don’t turn any patient away.
This isn’t our policy.”
The proposal to sort out patients and determine whether they need emergency treatment will help save a lot of time, effort and money. “Not only will we be able to devote more time for critically-ill patients or emergency cases, we’ll also help many people save money,” he said. At present, all non-Bahrainis who visit the A&E pay BD3 per head for examination. “At times, they’re referred to health centres immediately after triage. This will save them that money.” He said that as part of another proposal, a pharmacy for the exclusive use of patients at the A&E will be set up in the space that will be vacated by the triage team. This is part of efforts to offer the best services by streamlining them.”
Meanwhile, a new system to examine and better manage patients at the A&E took effect a few weeks ago. “The new system involves a physician each looking after the two wards at the department and another specialist looking after the resuscitation room.
“This has ensured more accountability as far as doctors are concerned and that only a particular physician is responsible for looking after patients in his care.” The system has been worked out to partially reduce “overload” at the A&E that often resulted in situations not conducive to patient health or the doctors. The decisions have been one of the long-standing demands of A&E physicians who have often been victims of verbal or physical abuse at the hands of patients or their relatives.
The accident and emergency (A&E) department at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) may soon do a triage of patients before they register, writes Mandeep Singh.
The A&E consultant, Dr Nabeel Kamaal, said that the proposal pending with the authorities put forward to the concerned might be implemented soon. Triage is a brief clinical assessment to determine the time-order sequence in which patients should be seen in A&E, based on an evaluation of vital signs, the patient’s overall appearance, history of illness or injury and mental status. “We have received the go-ahead and will have the triage behind where the registration desk is, in the next 10 days. Work will commence in a day or two, and the new place will start functioning by the first week of next month,” he said.
Dr Kamaal said that the new location would help monitor the arrival of patients by the triage team. “The team will also be in a position to identify any patients who require immediate attention and can act accordingly. We have to ensure that we don’t turn any patient away.
This isn’t our policy.”
The proposal to sort out patients and determine whether they need emergency treatment will help save a lot of time, effort and money. “Not only will we be able to devote more time for critically-ill patients or emergency cases, we’ll also help many people save money,” he said. At present, all non-Bahrainis who visit the A&E pay BD3 per head for examination. “At times, they’re referred to health centres immediately after triage. This will save them that money.” He said that as part of another proposal, a pharmacy for the exclusive use of patients at the A&E will be set up in the space that will be vacated by the triage team. This is part of efforts to offer the best services by streamlining them.”
Meanwhile, a new system to examine and better manage patients at the A&E took effect a few weeks ago. “The new system involves a physician each looking after the two wards at the department and another specialist looking after the resuscitation room.
“This has ensured more accountability as far as doctors are concerned and that only a particular physician is responsible for looking after patients in his care.” The system has been worked out to partially reduce “overload” at the A&E that often resulted in situations not conducive to patient health or the doctors. The decisions have been one of the long-standing demands of A&E physicians who have often been victims of verbal or physical abuse at the hands of patients or their relatives.
© Bahrain Tribune 2003
