Emergency Health Systems

Founded: 2019
Faculty Lead: Sean Kivlehan, MD, MPH
Status: Active Program
Regions of Focus: Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ukraine, Pakistan, Haiti, Turkey
Research Theme: Risk, Resilience and Response

Description

Strong emergency care systems improve the effectiveness of humanitarian action. An effective humanitarian response must include strengthening of emergency care systems to build resilience. The HHI Emergency Health Systems program works to bridge the gap between system development and humanitarian response and improve the quality and access of emergency care for those who need it most.

This mission is achieved through intertwined research, education, and advocacy efforts. By evaluating, implementing, and disseminating normative emergency care guidance, the Emergency Health Systems program aligns humanitarian response with the Sustainable Development Goals to increase the capacity of front-line providers and improve emergency care delivery processes and outcomes.

Projects

Operational Management for Emergency Departments (OMED) (September 2024- Ongoing)

Partnered with International Medical Corps and other key stakeholders to design, develop, and deliver a series of specially tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to create and support the operational management infrastructure of emergency departments. This project builds on the Ukraine Trauma Care project where large numbers of Ukrainian physicians, nurses, prehospital providers, and civilian first responders were trained in trauma care, mass casualty management, and CBRNE preparedness and response.

Ukraime Trauma Care Virtual Case-Based Community of Practice (CoP) (September 2024- Ongoing)

Partnered with Project ECHO to establish a virtual case-based community of practice to provide continuous support, mentorship and peer learning opportunities for a network of trauma care trainers in Ukraine. This project builds on the Ukraine Trauma Care project, which not only trained thousands of Ukrainian physicians, nurses, prehospital providers, and civilian first responders in trauma care, mass casualty management, and CBRNE preparedness but also developped a cadre of over 200 skilled trauma care trainers, ensuring sustainable capacity-building for emergency and trauma care nationally.

Ukraine Trauma Care Project (July 2022- August 2024)

Partnered with International Medical Corps to implement a comprehensive trauma care training curriculum to hospitals, clinicians and the community in Ukraine in the following seven domains both in primary and train-the-trainer formats: Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Trauma Nursing Fundamentals (TNF), Pediatric Trauma Fundamentals (PTF), Pre-Hospital Trauma Fundamentals (PHTF), Mass Casualty Management (MCM), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) and Stop the Bleed (StB).

WHO Global Health Cluster

Represent HHI at the Global Health Cluster and participate in cluster projects, most recently including the COVID-19 Technical Task Force and the Capacity Development Consultation Group.

WHO Emergency Care Toolkit

Support the dissemination and evaluation of the WHO-ICRC Basic Emergency Care course and associated products.

Academic-NGO Consortium

Work closely with several NGOs to provide emergency care and COVID guidance for field operations and support a roster of emergency physicians available for field deployment.

Fellowship in Global Emergency Medicine

The Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine supports two fellows who participate in development, disaster response, and displaced populations work.

Global Emergency Medicine Literature Review

A team of 24 reviewers and editors from around the world who conduct an annual review of literature focused on humanitarian and emergency care as well as an annual systematic review.

Global Emergency Care Organization Collaboration

Active participation in organizations support the advancement of emergency care and humanitarian action around the world.

Academic Consortium for Emergency Systems

A research network spanning several institutions in the US focused on implementing and evaluating emergency care interventions globally.