MBPHA holds training for IITT system
The Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority (MBPHA) is conducting a weeklong important training for emergency medicine teams from Alotau Provincial Hospital and nearby health facilities.
The training aims to enhance the knowledge of its emergency first responders in using the newly recommended triage system known as the Integrated Interagency Triage Tool (IITT).
Despite the integrated Interagency Triage Tool (IITT) system being introduced in the Alotau Provincial Hospital emergency department, its effectiveness is limited due to lack of formal training for its emergency first responders and also the challenges faced with infrastructures.
The emergency first responders are not only the medical team but it's securities, clerical staff and janitors as they also play a very important part in entry in emergencies.
The triage system is designed to help emergency medical teams to assess and sort patients according to the urgency of their sickness when they arrive at the hospital using the colors red, yellow and green; red as emergency, yellow as urgent and green as non-urgent.
This ensures sicker patients are prioritized and helps prevent deaths and complications.
At the opening of training on Monday this week, Alotau Provincial Hospital Specialist Medical Officer of the Emergency Department, Dr. William Mataio, said the training is important as it empowers the emergency team to improve their care for patients.
"Emergency care in our setting has the potential to save a lot of lives, a lot of preventative deaths whether it be from injuries or from acute illness.
"This training is to empower us to improve our care in terms of prioritizing patients as they come to the hospital and to receive the best care they can.” Dr. Mataio said.
The training will also be extended to rural and remote health facilities within the province once the Provincial Hospital is completed.
The IITT system is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for Low-to Middle-income countries and by PNG society for Emergency Medicine (PNGSEM).
The training is supported by Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) through Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),Australia, Port Moresby General Hospital and MBPHA.