{"id":5098,"date":"2016-08-30T02:00:51","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T02:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/?p=5098"},"modified":"2016-08-30T11:58:17","modified_gmt":"2016-08-30T11:58:17","slug":"remote-site-healthcare-just-how-important-is-your-on-site-resource","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oilnewskenya.com\/index.php\/remote-site-healthcare-just-how-important-is-your-on-site-resource\/","title":{"rendered":"Remote Site Healthcare \u2013 Just how important is your on-site resource?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Peter<\/a>By Peter Brink<\/p>\n

With the oil & gas and commodity prices low, companies are forced to operate leaner and reduce both capital and operational costs. All aspects of operations are scrutinized and cost vs. benefit interrogated. This does not come without certain risks, some of which can be to on-site healthcare in a more pressurized environment.<\/p>\n

From a workforce health perspective, companies may be forced to look for more cost effective, logistically easier solutions to satisfy their duty of care for employees and workers. This includes making use of local healthcare faculties and medical professionals, becoming more reliant on evacuation plans and having access to evacuation or medical assistance on a \u201ccall when needed\u201d basis.<\/p>\n

The potential risks with these approaches are that:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. a) not all healthcare professionals are created equally,<\/li>\n
  2. b) where time is a critical factor, \u201ccall when needed\u201d is sometimes too late and,<\/li>\n
  3. c) an evacuation or emergency plan is nothing more than a list of things to do and numbers to call – it does not treat a patient.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Experience has shown that some decision makers are not aware of the limitations or differences between training and experience of various healthcare professionals. A lack of understanding of these two factors can lull clients into a false sense of security – feeling comfortable in the belief that having any level of healthcare professional on a remote site or a medical facility close by is adequate.<\/p>\n

    When we say that not all healthcare professionals are created equally, we think of the horses for courses concept. For example, a doctor (national or \u201cwestern trained\u201d general practitioner) may be perceived to be best suited to a remote site, however, general practitioners do not spend as much time on actual emergency medicine and do not have the focused training and experience that, say, a Paramedic would have. Generally speaking, a doctor may spend 5 or 6 years studying general medicine, but a paramedic would spend 3 or 4 years studying emergency medical care and rescue, almost exclusively. (This obviously excludes doctors who have specialized in or have a keen interest in emergency medicine)<\/span><\/p>\n

    When we look deeper into the healthcare training capabilities within Africa, the unfortunate truth is that there is no formalized Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic training in much of Africa outside of South Africa – with the possible exception of a developing EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training program and some short courses in cardiac care in Kenya. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The title \u201cParamedic\u201d refers to ALS providers, all other levels are Basic or Intermediate Providers – not Paramedics. The term EMT refers to a basic life support provider, and the term Paramedic refers to Advanced Life Support. Nevertheless, many EMT-Basic and EMT-Intermediate consider themselves to be Paramedics.<\/span><\/p>\n

    With the greatest respect to our colleagues, national healthcare practitioners – \u00a0doctors, clinical officers, nurses and \u201cParamedics\u201d \u00a0are generally not specifically trained, experienced or equipped to diagnose and treat significant medical and trauma emergencies. Its not their fault, or for us to question their willingness or belief that they are trained. It is however, a reality. Some do travel abroad for specialized training, but many have neither the funds or ability to do so.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A short course in Advanced Cardiac life Support or Advanced Trauma Life Support may provide insight into emergency care but without an existing experience base or knowledge of the equipment, these courses are largely ineffective. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Sometimes decision makers don\u2019t know the difference, a doctor is a doctor and a paramedic is a paramedic. <\/span><\/p>\n

    We place emphasis on the word \u201cexperience\u201d. This is critical because on a remote site, thankfully medical emergencies or significant injuries are infrequent. Despite the infrequency of these events, the implications thereof are dramatic to both the patient, the operation, insurers and funders. However, when one does happen, the healthcare practitioner should be able to rely on solid training and experience, having performed enough advanced life support procedures for it to become second nature. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Technological advancements in the oil & gas, mining and exploration environments have allowed organizations to drill faster, extract better and refine more cost effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The same holds true for general and emergency medicine; where technology and up to date, evidence based medicine can improve outcomes, save lives and reduce long term disability as a result of a medical emergency or injury. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n