The evaluation of the "Health response to the earthquake in Haiti (2010)" showed that, although the response was significant and medical teams were present and saved many lives, there were also many of them that were not prepared or were even incompetent for the kind of medical care required by the patients. The publication of Haiti´s learned lessons for future responses demonstrated the need to develop principles, criteria and standards for medical teams that respond to emergencies and disasters, in line with global processes to improve humanitarian guidelines and standards.
In this context, the Pan American Health Organization convened a meeting of experts in Cuba, from 7-9 December 2010, to, among others, review the "Guidelines for the Use of Foreign Field Hospitals in the Aftermath of Sudden-Impact Disasters", published by PAHO/WHO in 2003, and streamline the request, acceptance and coordination processes for international medical teams. The purpose was improving the speed of response and efficiency in deployment. The group of experts prepared a report of the meeting, which is the basis of the initiative known today as "Emergency Medical Teams."
PAHO's Directing Council, made up of representatives from Member States, approved the "Plan of Action for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance in the Americas", at its 53rd session. The plan considers the implementation in Member States of response procedures and flexible national registration mechanisms for Emergency Medical Teams.
EMTs are teams of health professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, etc.) that provide direct clinical care to people affected by emergencies and disasters, and support local health systems.
EMT can be from both governmental (civil and military teams) and non-governmental organizations and their response can be national or international.
Traditionally, these teams have been focused on the management of trauma and surgical care, but the response to the Ebola outbreak demonstrated the value they can have in other contexts, such as epidemics and complex emergencies.
EMTs work under the overall guidance of the Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams in sudden-onset disasters.
Documents:
For additional information regarding the EMT initiative contact: Luis de la Fuente Martin: emt@paho.org
The global EMT initiative is implemented through the Global Secretariat and its three Regional Secretariats for Africa, Americas, South-East Asia, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific.
The EMT initiative in the Americas will be implemented through the Pan American Health Organization and will be comprised of the Regional EMT Secretariat, the Regional EMT Group, and the national EMT focal point network.
Documents:
Building national emergency medical teams capacity. Ensuring access to essential, quality, life-saving health services through effective, scalable, interoperable and rapidly deployable national emergency medical teams that are fully integrated into local health service networks.
Handover of diagnostic imaging modules to emergency medical teams (ARG Armed Forces)
Hand hygiene within EMTs
EMT Mentor Workshop for the Americas Region