Today's Edition
SAMI ABDEL RAOUF (ABU DHABI)
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has established standards for emergency carts in licensed health facilities, aiming to improve patient safety, care outcomes, and the availability of life-saving medications, equipment, and supplies.
MoHAP mandates that medical facilities must provide an emergency cart in less than five minutes to address patient and injury cases. These carts, equipped with essential medical devices and medications, are stationed in hospital medical units and contain crucial life-saving items and first aid supplies.
The ministry highlighted that emergency carts are utilised during crises by authorised and trained personnel to save lives. Hospitals and medical facilities are required to assign teams to audit all emergency carts and verify their contents against documented checklists every six months.
Wynand Wyngaardt, Chief of Emergency Medical Services at Response Plus Holding, stressed the importance of mandatory standards for hospitals regarding emergency carts. He emphasised that these standards ensure a high level of care for patients in a safe and healthy environment, managed by trained medical specialists in pre-hospital settings.
Wyngaardt noted that hospitals must comply with all MoHAP standards, adding that pre-hospital care is an extension of healthcare and patient journeys within the health system. He underscored the need for pre-hospital care providers to be well-qualified and gain experience in formal emergency medical service environments.
Dr. Tarek Dufan, Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Radiation Oncology at American Hospital Dubai, stated that “healthcare and patient safety are top priorities in the UAE’s healthcare sector.” He added that implementing emergency cart standards is integral to this commitment amid the increasing demand for medical services. Hospitals must be equipped with emergency equipment and ensure their readiness for use at any moment.
Dr. Dufan outlined several provisions of the decision, including ensuring all emergency necessities and devices are available in various hospitals, especially in emergency carts, and that all medications are usable. He emphasised that all specialists must be trained on handling the medications and devices in these carts to provide the best healthcare services to patients.
Implementing emergency cart standards contributes to ensuring patient safety and the quality of healthcare services provided, Dr. Dufan noted. Properly equipped modern medical equipment reduces the risk of medical errors and improves the patient experience. Additionally, a well-equipped emergency cart reflects preparedness and professionalism in hospitals, enhancing patient and community trust in the medical services provided.
Dr. Dufan also highlighted the potential cost savings from implementing emergency cart standards. By providing primary care quickly and effectively, complications and additional costs from delayed treatment or lack of necessary medical equipment can be avoided.
He highlighted that the new standards require continuous awareness and training for medical teams within hospitals. Ensuring proper and effective use of the equipment requires regular and professional training for doctors, nurses, and technicians involved in emergency operations, he said, adding that with regular equipment updates and maintenance and ongoing training for medical teams, hospitals can maintain high readiness levels to handle any emergencies within their medical facilities.
Dr. Dufan said that updated emergency carts have significantly enhanced hospital readiness to face the COVID-19 pandemic. In major emergencies, hospitals may need to provide medical care to many injured persons in a short time, where a well-equipped emergency cart is vital for providing necessary care.
