Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi / Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
-
A quick and efficient prehospital emergency response depends on immediate ambulance dispatch, patient assessment, triage, and transport to hospital. During 1999, the Ambulance Command of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department responded to 484,923 calls, which corresponds to 1329 calls each day. ⋯ Furthermore, the 'first crew at the scene' model has been adopted, whereby the command is established and triage process started by the first ambulance crew members to reach the scene. The development of emergency protocols should be accompanied by good field-to-hospital and interhospital communication, the upgrading of decision-making skills, a good monitoring and auditing structure, and commitment to training and skills maintenance.
-
This article reviews the history and progress of the computerisation of accident and emergency departments in Hong Kong. The Hospital Information System was the first computerisation project to be launched in a public hospital in Hong Kong, when the Princess Margaret Hospital was selected as a pilot site in April 1991. The network infrastructure comprised a central processor that linked to all workstations in the hospital in an integrated network. ⋯ Laboratory, diagnostic radiology, and electrocardiography results were also available in this system. With the extensive development of Internet technology within the Hospital Authority, clinical information can now be retrieved in any hospital in a couple of minutes. The availability of important clinical information will be of great help to emergency physicians in the delivery of quality care to patients.
-
To compare the contributions of patients, emergency physicians, and surgeons in the delay of diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis, and the effects of delay on disease stage and complication rate. ⋯ There should be a higher index of suspicion, better surgical training, and better senior supervision at accident and emergency departments, to avoid preventable morbidity and mortality in acute appendicitis.
-
Review
A 12-month review of autopsies performed at a university-affiliated teaching hospital in Hong Kong.
To review the autopsies performed at a university-affiliated teaching hospital over a 12-month period. ⋯ Autopsy is a valid medical quality-assurance mechanism in Hong Kong.