Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad Trauma Centre recently hosted delegates, including speakers from the US, the UK, Canada, Europe, India, and the GCC region, for a four-day congress.
The theme of the congress was ‘Trauma Team Journey from Inception to Verification’. Around 200 delegates took part. Speakers shared their experience and best practices in the development of trauma systems designed to save lives and reduce disabilities.
The congress focused on three main topics, including the trauma system verification and accreditation process, updated damage control approaches in the management of trauma patients, and clinical research.
“The event has made a significant contribution to the continuing professional development of all healthcare providers who care for trauma patients,” said Dr Hassan al-Thani, the head of Trauma Services at HMC, Hamad Trauma Centre director and the congress chairman.
He said a thought-provoking combination of global and regional perspectives has provided participants with the opportunity to create local solutions that can be applied to their own patients and healthcare setting.
“Together, we share the ambition of improving the evaluation and management of critically injured trauma patients in our region. This conference is an important step forward in meeting that important goal,” he added.
Dr Ayman El-Menyar, director of Clinical Research in Trauma and Vascular Surgery and congress co-chair, recalled the event was a perfect opportunity for multi-disciplinary teams of experts involved in the care of trauma patients to discuss damage control approaches in surgery, one of the hot topics in trauma care nowadays.
“They were able to interact on how to limit damage control and save lives with early interventions because most trauma patients usually present with severe injuries.”
He noted that the congress highlighted the importance of collaboration between Ambulance Service teams, intensivists, trauma surgeons, database registries, trauma research offices, injury prevention teams, trauma fellowship programmes, nursing staff, radiologists, clinical pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists.
Delegates agreed upon the important role of collecting and analysing accurate data on the leading causes and risk factors for trauma. They cited that investing in the hardware, the software and the manpower for the creation of trauma registries were essential steps to identifying priority areas for injury prevention and improving the delivery of trauma care.
The Hamad Trauma Centre is the national Level I Trauma Centre of Qatar. Last year, HMC received the Trauma Distinction Award of Excellence from Accreditation Canada International, becoming the first trauma organisation in the world to earn the recognition.