Open AccessMedical students as disaster volunteers: A strategy for improving emergency department surge response in times of crisis
Author(s) -
R Ponampalam,
Jeremy Zhenwen Pong,
Xiang-Yi Wong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2220-3141
DOI - 10.5492/wjccm.v10.i5.163
Subject(s) - surge capacity , medical emergency , emergency department , disaster response , emergency response , medicine , conceptualization , medical education , emergency management , nursing , political science , covid-19 , computer science , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , artificial intelligence , law
Disasters resulting in mass casualty incidents can rapidly overwhelm the Emergency Department (ED). To address critical manpower needs in the ED's disaster response, medical student involvement has been advocated. Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School is in proximity to Singapore General Hospital and represents an untapped manpower resource. With appropriate training and integration into ED disaster workflows, medical students can be leveraged upon as qualified manpower. This review provides a snapshot of the conceptualization and setting up of the Disaster Volunteer Corps - a programme where medical students were recruited to receive regular training and assessment from emergency physicians on disaster response principles to fulfil specific roles during a crisis, while working as part of a team under supervision. We discuss overall strategy and benefits to stakeholders, emphasizing the close symbiotic relationship between academia and healthcare services.