A Local EMT Deployment in Fiji

Abstract

Background/Introduction:

In May 2021, Lautoka Hospital a tertiary referral hospital recorded the first Delta variant COVID infection within medical wards. This prompted the national Incident Management Team to close the hospital and convert the entire facility to a COVID 19 isolation hospital. The staff and patients were isolated for a period of 28 days. The Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) was deployed to set up and manage a field hospital.

Objectives:

To describe the response of FEMAT to continuity of health service delivery in Lautoka.

Method/Description:

FEMAT set up a 28-bed inpatient field hospital within 72 hours. The facility was furnished with water and electrical power supply systems from the existing FEMAT cache. The service provided included general outpatient (GOPD), special outpatient (SOPD), inpatient wards (men, women, maternity, and resuscitation), dental, pharmacy, radiology, and minor surgical services. This was managed at a 12-hour shift by a 48-member team of clinicians, administrators, and logisticians.

Results/Outcomes:

There were 78 admissions, 671 cases triaged, 414 GOPD, 61 SOPD, 16 pediatric, 161 dental, 16 antenatal clinic, 1 Home retrieval, 4 cases requiring medical evacuation, 165 COVID screenings, 11 transfer of cases, 35 surgical procedures, and 8 deliveries within the field hospital.

Conclusion:

FEMAT response ensured continued provision of critical health services for the people of Lautoka during the main hospital lockdown.