Open AccessInternational trauma care: initial European approaches during the COVID 19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Tim Chesser,
Robert Handley,
Johannes Kloos,
Gerrit De Wachter,
Guy Putzeys,
Jesús Gómez-Vallejo,
Coral Sánchez-Pérez,
Francisco Chana-Rodríguez,
Filippo Raggini,
Carlotta Pari,
Stefania Paderni,
Achille Contini,
Alberto Belluati,
Ioannis Daskalakis,
Ioannis Sperelakis,
A. Kostakos,
Theodoros H. Tosounidis,
Sascha Halvachizadeh,
HansChristoph Pape,
Bertil Bouillon,
Berend-Jan de Bruin,
Kees-Jan Ponsen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ota international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2574-2167
DOI - 10.1097/oi9.0000000000000112
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , telemedicine , health care , global health , medical emergency , political science , medicine , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , pathology , disease , outbreak
The world was not prepared for the global of pandemic in early 2020 with the arrival of COVID 19. Europe has some of the most developed health care systems in the world and this article explains the initial response to the pandemic from an orthopaedic and trauma viewpoint from 8 nations. Italy reported the first cluster in February, which then rapidly spread around the continent, requiring a rapid reorganization of services. The reports highlight how elective surgery was universally stopped, surgical services were reconfigured, and new practices, such as the widespread use of telemedicine, may well become permanent. It also emphasizes how the pandemic has re-educated us on the importance of a consistent and central approach to deal with a global health crisis, and how medical services need to remain flexible and responsive to new ways of working.