Trauma centres backed by ICT will transform healthcare sector

IN Zimbabwe, the establishment of trauma centres backed by robust Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure could be a game-changer. These centres, strategically located and equipped with the latest in medical technology and telecommunication, have the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and alleviate the burden on public hospitals.

Public hospitals in Zimbabwe face challenges, including limited resources, and strained medical personnel.

Trauma centres can serve as an effective buffer, providing specialised care for emergency cases and thus freeing up space and resources in public hospitals for non-emergency patients.

With dedicated trauma care, patients can receive faster and more focused treatment, which is crucial for conditions that require immediate attention.

A robust ICT infrastructure is vital for the success of trauma centres. It enables real-time data sharing, telemedicine services, and better coordination between various healthcare providers.

In emergency healthcare, where every second counts, the ability to quickly access and share patient information can mean the difference between life and death. Moreover, ICT tools can streamline administrative processes, reduce errors, and facilitate continuous professional development through online training and collaboration.

Looking at global precedents, the impact of ICT-supported trauma centres is evident.

For instance, in the United States, trauma-informed care has been enhanced through ICT, leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of resources. Similarly, in Australia, ICT infrastructure has been leveraged to improve healthcare delivery by enabling healthcare professionals to be more informed and better prepared in decision-making.

In Zimbabwe, trauma centres with ICT support can revolutionise patient management by enabling seamless coordination between emergency services, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities.

This networked approach ensures that patients receive timely and appropriate care, reducing the likelihood of complications and improving overall outcomes.

The centralisation of communication and medical data through ICT systems allows for a more synchronised healthcare delivery, enhancing the efficiency of the entire care continuum.

Trauma centres provide immediate access to specialised medical teams trained to handle severe and life-threatening injuries. This rapid response is vital in the ‘golden hour,’ the critical period following trauma where prompt treatment can greatly increase survival rates.

In Zimbabwe, having a network of trauma centres means that more patients can get the specialist care they need without delay.

Trauma centres concentrate resources and expertise in a single location, which leads to more efficient use of medical equipment and personnel.

This centralisation helps to avoid the duplication of services across multiple hospitals, ensuring that high-cost resources like CT scanners and specialised surgical teams are utilised to their fullest potential.

For Zimbabwe, this means that healthcare funds can be allocated more effectively, improving the overall quality of care.

The integration of ICT in trauma centres allows for the systematic collection and analysis of patient data.

This data can inform evidence-based improvements in care protocols, leading to better patient outcomes.

In Zimbabwe, where healthcare resources are limited, data-driven strategies can help identify the most effective treatments and resource allocations, ensuring that the healthcare system adapts and improves over time.

With robust ICT infrastructure, trauma centres can offer telemedicine services, extending the reach of specialist care into rural and remote areas.

This is particularly beneficial for Zimbabwe, where such areas may not have immediate access to high-level medical care. Telemedicine can facilitate consultations with specialists, remote diagnostics, and even virtual participation in surgeries, ensuring that all patients receive expert care regardless of location.

Trauma centres serve as hubs for ongoing education and training, ensuring that medical staff are up-to-date with the latest trauma care techniques and technologies.

In Zimbabwe, this focus on continuous professional development can lead to a more skilled healthcare workforce, capable of delivering high-quality care and responding to the evolving needs of the population.

Trauma centres are in a unique position to implement and monitor standardised treatment protocols, ensuring that all patients receive consistent and high-quality care.

This standardisation is crucial for maintaining a high level of care across the healthcare system. Trauma centres can help bridge the gap by providing reliable and effective treatment to all patients. Beyond immediate medical care, trauma centres can play a vital role in community integration by providing comprehensive services that include rehabilitation and mental health support.

This holistic approach to trauma care ensures that patients in Zimbabwe receive not only life-saving interventions but also the support they need to recover fully and reintegrate into their communities.

Trauma centres can attract additional funding from Government and international donors, which can be used to further improve healthcare services.

For Zimbabwe, this could mean an influx of resources that can be reinvested into the healthcare system, leading to better facilities, more training opportunities for medical staff, and improved patient care services.

By investing in trauma centres with strong ICT support, the country can take a significant step towards a more resilient and responsive healthcare system.

This will not only improve the quality of care for patients but also ensure that public hospitals can operate more effectively, ultimately leading to a healthier and more prosperous nation. ◆ Jacqueline Ntaka is the CEO of Mviyo Technologies.

Feedback : jackie.ntaka@mviyo.com.

AS discussed in previous articles, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a meaningful contribution to their community.

Bullying is aggressive behaviour towards or intimidation of another person who may not be able to defend themselves. While bullying often happens with children and young people, it can and does happen to adults too.

Are you experiencing bullying as an adult?

1. Are you being consistently humiliated or belittled?

2. Are you often criticised unfairly?

3. Do you feel deliberately excluded and isolated?

4. Are you experiencing consistent verbal abuse?

5. Is someone in a position of authority over you intimidating you or threatening you?

6. Are you consistently made the subject of jokes, gossip or ridicule?

7. Do you feel consistently gas-lighted, made to feel as if what you have experienced is not as bad as it seems or did not happen as you say it did?

Types of adult bullying

This is verbal insults and unwarranted harsh criticism, being called names and being ridiculed.

Intimidation and ridicule on social media, receiving threatening or harassing messages, spreading of rumours, leaking of private images or messages on public social media.

Deliberate exclusion from work or social events, ostracisation, embarrassment and humiliation.

Being physically hurt or having your property damaged to intimidate you.

Am I an adult bully?

Could you be the bully? or control others? inadequate?

Mental health effects of adult bully

Being bullied as an adult can result in:

worth, poor self-confidence resulting in poor decision-making. behaviour

Dealing with adult bullies

1. Set clear, firm boundaries.

2. Confront the behaviour, be clear about what behaviour is making you uncomfortable and what behaviour will not be tolerated.

3. Be self-aware and remain calm during bullying incidents.

4. Seek legal counsel if needed and escalate the issue if it is in a workplace setting, if the behaviour persists.

5. Build your support system, friends, family and supportive colleagues.

6. Build psychologically safe homes and workplaces with a zero tolerance to bullying and intimidation.

If you think that you or someone that you know may be experiencing a mental health problem linked to bullying, please contact your nearest health care provider and get help.

Association of Health Care Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) article written by Dr Chido Rwafa Madzvamutse, Consultant Psychiatrist. Feedback: Dr Chido Rwafa Madzvamutse +263777727332) (www.ahfoz.org; ahfoz@ahfoz.co.zw)