Public-private implementation of integrated emergency response services: Case study of GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute in Karnataka, India

Achieving Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia (SOTA) care for all in South Asia

South Asia is a demographically crucial, economically aspiring, and socio-culturally diverse region in the world. The region contributes to a large burden of surgically-treatable disease conditions. A large number of people in South Asia cannot access safe and affordable surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia (SOTA) care when in need. Yet, attention to the region in Global Surgery and Global Health is limited. Here, we assess the status of SOTA care in South Asia. We summarize the evidence on SOTA care indicators and planning. Region-wide, as well as country-specific challenges are highlighted. We also discuss potential directions-initiatives and innovations-toward addressing these challenges. Local partnerships, sustained research and advocacy efforts, and politics can be aligned with evidence-based policymaking and health planning to achieve equitable SOTA care access in the South Asian region under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Reducing the neurotrauma burden in India- a national mobilization

India has one of the highest TBI burdens due to RTA, with 60% of head injuries being attributable to RTA and more than 150000 lives being lost annually due to TBI. These numbers have prompted institutions and organizations at international, national and local levels to mobilize and address this burden through prevention, pre-hospital care and in hospital care. Academic institutions such as the AMC have run local campaigns promoting the wearing of helmets when riding two-wheelers. Prehospital care institutions such as GVK-EMRI have also made large strides nationally on delivering safe and timely care through novel and focused education to its EMTs, applying evidence-based practice to all facets of its work. These led to implementation of novel and innovative technological solutions faster and more efficient responses. National institutions such as the NSI and NTSI have been instrumental in promoting safety measures such as helmets and use of seat belts through social media videos, often using celebrities to disseminate the message. NSI have also focused on sharing best practices for the management of TBI through easy-to-use platforms such as YouTube. Institutions such as AAPI, NSI and NTSI have collaboratively developed TBI management guidelines that are specific to the Indian population (supported by AASAN). NGOs such as the IHIF and SLF have contributed to this movement by promoting awareness through campaigns and public education. While TBI remains a large burden in India, a mobilization, and coalesced efforts of such a scale holds promise tackling this burden.

Key recommendations to strengthen public-private partnership for adolescent health in resource constrained settings: Formative qualitative inquiry in Mongolia, Myanmar and the Philippines

Background

Public health services can be inaccessible for adolescents. The private sector provides many services, but often in parallel to the public sector. This study aimed to understand current private sector engagement in adolescent health service delivery and develop recommendations to strengthen partnerships.

Methods

The study focussed on Mongolia, Myanmar and the Philippines. An initial participatory workshop in each country was followed by semi-structured key-informant interviews (32 in total) with public and private sector actors and adolescents to explore: perceptions of the public and private sectors, strengths and challenges, existing models of partnership, and insights for successful public-private partnership (PPP). Interview transcripts were analysed thematically, with findings and recommendations verified through a second workshop in Mongolia and the Philippines.

Findings

The private sector already plays a significant role in adolescent health care, and stakeholders reported a genuine willingness for partnership. Strengthened PPP was identified as necessary to improve service accessibility and quality for adolescents, unburden the public sector and introduce new technologies, with advantages for the private sector including improved access to training and resources, and an enhanced public image. Recommendations for strengthened PPP included the need to establish the foundations for partnership, clearly define roles and co-ordinate stakeholders, ensure capacity and sustainability, and monitor and evaluate efforts.

Interpretation

This is the first comprehensive study of public-private partnership for adolescent health in the Asia Pacific region. It identifies stakeholders are willing for stronger partnerships and the benefits this partnership will bring. We define eight key recommendations to enable this partnership across sectors.

The effect of early cognitive training and rehabilitation for patients with cognitive dysfunction in stroke

OBJECTIVE

This article explores the effects of early cognitive training and rehabilitation for patients with cognitive dysfunction in stroke.

METHODS

Stroke patients have cognitive dysfunction, and the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in stroke patients is six to nine times that of patients without stroke. This article selects 118 patients with stroke in our hospital from August 2017 to August 2019, 42 patients with stroke disorders randomly divided into two groups. Both groups of patients received conventional rehabilitation training, and the observation group performed motion observation therapy in virtual reality equipment based on conventional cognitive training. Analysis of time parameters related to rehabilitation training before and after treatment, and evaluation of standard health effects.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of treatment, the cognitive training time parameters of the two groups were compared. The cognitive reaction time was shorter than that before treatment. After treatment, the scores of cognitive training and rehabilitation effects were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the two scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group.

CONCLUSION

Stroke patients receive early cognitive training with the support of computer-assisted technology to obtain good rehabilitation results.

Emergency care: Operationalizing the practice through a concept analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current uses of emergency care are ambiguous and lack clarity, leading to imprecise use of the term in nursing practice. An explicit definition of emergency care is necessary to build and advance the field. An empirically driven definition of emergency care is lacking in the refereed literature. The purpose of this article was to present an in-depth inquiry of emergency care that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and to articulate a defensible definition of emergency care.

METHODS

This concept analysis was performed using the eight-step approach of Walker and Avant. A database search within the disciplines of nursing, medicine, education, and social sciences was conducted using the keyword emergency care. Databases of refereed literature were reviewed. Additional searches of nonrefereed literature, such as dictionaries and thesauri, were also examined.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this concept analysis, the attributes of emergency care include the immediate evaluation and treatment of an unexpected illness or injury. Emergency care is not specific to a setting or location. Antecedents to emergency care consist of a precipitating event, recognition that medical help is required, and access to emergency care. A model, borderline, related, and contrary cases of emergency care are presented.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The identification of emergency care attributes in this concept analysis contributes to the body of knowledge in emergency care and clarifies the ambiguity of the concept to prompt developments in practice, theory, and research with implications for emergency nurse practitioner clinical education, and scope of practice regulation.

Prehospital Factors Associated with Discharge Outcomes: Baseline Data from the Andhra Pradesh Traumatic Brain Injury Project

Objective

Strategies to improve traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes in India are ill defined. The objective of this study was to examine baseline prehospital (PH) factors associated with outcomes from the Andhra Pradesh Traumatic Brain Injury Project.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of adult patients with TBI admitted to the primary referral hospital. Modes of injury, prehospital care and transport, and factors associated with increased in-hospital mortality were evaluated. Poisson regression with robust error variance and adjusted attributable risk percent estimates determined factors associated with outcomes.

Results

A total of 447 adults (38% with mild TBI, 30% with moderate TBI, and 32% with severe TBI; 81% men) with isolated TBI (89%) from road traffic accidents (48.1%) or falls (46.5%) were enrolled. Of the patients, 45.7% were transported by ambulance, 61% had scalp/facial bleeding, 11% had respiratory distress, and 7% had cervical spine stabilization. Of these, 25.3% died and 34% had unfavorable outcomes. Among 335 direct admits, 45% traveled more than 50 km and nearly 20% traveled more than 100 km. Bleeding was associated with higher mortality (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.31) and unfavorable outcome (aRR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.18–2.17). Of the patients, 45 (31%) with severe TBI received PH airway management prior to definitive treatment, and respiratory distress was associated with unfavorable discharge outcomes (aRR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00–1.51).

Conclusions

Patients with TBI often received treatment far away from injury, bypassing closer hospitals. Scalp/facial bleeding was common and associated with unfavorable outcomes. Ambulance use was infrequent, and few patients received PH airway management, hemorrhage control, or cervical spine stabilization when needed.