April 2016:
EMEDEX completed emergency ultrasound training this month for a group of selected providers at the public hospitals of Fort Liberte and Ouanaminthe. The training curriculum focused on rapid, focused evaluation of trauma and obstetric patients, two populations for which emergency ultrasound can significantly impact immediate decision making and resource allocation. The course was taught by specialized emergency physicians, trained in emergency ultrasound, and was taught in Haitian Creole, along with an illustrated manual adapted by EMEDEX and translated to French. Providers will subsequently be performing ultrasounds and receive feedback on the images they have obtained for quality assurance and continued training. A refresher course is planned for the coming year to review the providers’ skills and solidify their knowledge.