(A314) Challenges Faced in Establishing the Emergency Prehospital Ambulance Service in North Central Sri Lanka: Developing Something from Nothing

Abstract

The existence of a prehospital emergency care system signifies how secure an area is in aftermath of a health-related emergency. The systems save lives during most out-of-hospital health emergencies. Until 2010, there was no regular prehospital care system in Anuradhapura, or even in the entire north central region of Sri Lanka. Trauma patients were brought to the hospital generally with little or no prehospital care. They were transported to hospital by relatives or other people at the scene with using whatever vehicle was available at the time, which in many occasions was a trishaw. The concept of developing a prehospital emergency ambulance service to cover the municipality of Anuradhapura as a pilot project was formulated in 2009. The objectives were to: (1) provide emergency prehospital care in the municipality; (2) identify the difficulties; and (3) assess the feasibility of implementing it in the entire district. Some of the challenges faced in the process from the initial draft of the concept up to now include: 1. Studying an established emergency medical services (EMS) system; 2. Developing a pressure group in hospital; 3. Convincing the need to administration; 4. Funding in the initial period; 5. Selecting the proper team and supportive peers; 6. Providing standard training to selected staff; 7. Formulating duty norms and standard operating procedures; 8. Infrastructure development, acquiring instruments, and vehicles with limited fund capacities; 9. Cooperating with the trade unions and external/internal negative forces; 10. Rallying the collaborators with same interest; 11. Handling donors; 12. Getting the support of other key institutions (police/municipal council); 13. Utilizing local media to help promote the project; 14. Social mobilization to ensure sustainability; and 15. Ensuring worker satisfaction, encouragement, and liaison with other units of hospital.