HOSPITAL CAPACITY FOR AMBULANCE SYSTEM 11 April 2005 Dr. Catherine Nansamba Research Associate Injury Control Center - Uganda

Inception  Request to carry out the study  ICC-U response  Assessment of relevance of study to ICC-U  Acceptance to take up study Development of study  Objective  Strategy  Work plan

The Study  Target hospitals  Approach (Questionnaire)  Activities  Inputs (financial and non-financial)  Time frame  Results  Data  Analysis  Information

Summary of the results  Eight health facilities were studied Public = 2 Private non-profit = 4 Private for-profit = 2  Health facility size ranged from 8 to 1500 in- patient beds.  Number of emergency personnel ranged from 2 to 59  50% had dedicated resuscitation rooms.

 50% had chest tubes and airway equipment.  Three (37.5%) had emergency units.  Seven (87.5%) had an ambulance in good condition.  50% could offer ambulance services when called by telephone.  50% had emergency personnel without specialized training.

Deduction  Insufficient emergency services  No capacity to manage prevailing patient load  No capacity to handle increased patient load from an Ambulance Service Recommendations  The ambulance service plan therefore would only be effective in the event of health service capacity increases commensurate with the expected patient load.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INJURY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME  Concept  Approach  Sentinel sites  Role players  Duration  Challenges  Recommendations