Clinical Governance and Preparedness in Emergency Medical Teams: Insights from the Portuguese Emergency Medical Team (PT EMT)

Abstract

Background/Introduction:

The PT EMT plays a crucial role in emergency assistance during disasters, outbreaks, and mass gatherings, alleviating pressure on hospital emergency departments and supporting local health systems. The EMT Initiative ensures that health services provided in emergencies are safe, timely, equitable, and efficient. This initiative supports the deployment of teams and the development of structures necessary to deliver quality health services in host countries.

Objectives:

Benchmarking for EMT development and deployment to ensure consistent and quality clinical governance and preparedness.

Method/Description:

Analysis of clinical management and supply chain practices based on PT EMT’s experience.

Results/Outcomes:

To enhance clinical performance, the Portuguese team supplemented WHO’s Minimum Standards by developing 25 clinical guides. These guides help in precise assessment of clinical consumables, ensuring the module’s self-reliance and reducing material wastage. They also facilitate the preparation of cargo manifests and optimize the packaging and transport of clinical supplies, adhering to safety standards.

Using WHO’s Essential Medicines List and considering potential deployments in Portuguese-speaking countries, the PT EMT established a robust inventory of essential clinical consumables. This inventory ensures authorized entry into host countries and continuity of care post-deployment. The organization of clinical supplies into three kits allows for autonomous care for up to 15 days, supporting 100 patients daily. This preparedness was recognized and integrated into WHO’s revised Bluebook in 2021.

Conclusion:

Since 2019, this approach has been tested and refined at major events like Fatima’s mass gathering and World Youth Day 2023, demonstrating increased operational efficiency and sustained emergency response capabilities for the PT EMT.