Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:53:08.276Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Literature Review of Medical Record Keeping by Foreign Medical Teams in Sudden Onset Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2015

Anisa J. N. Jafar ,
Ian Norton ,
Fiona Lecky  and
Anthony D. Redmond
Anisa J. N. Jafar*
Affiliation:
HCRI, Ellen Wilkinson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Ian Norton
Affiliation:
National Critical Care and Trauma Response Center, Darwin, Australia
Fiona Lecky
Affiliation:
EMRiS Group, ScHARR, Sheffield, United Kingdom
Anthony D. Redmond
Affiliation:
HCRI, Ellen Wilkinson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
*
Correspondence: Anisa J. N. Jafar, MBChB(e) HCRI Ellen Wilkinson Building University of Manchester Devas Street Manchester, M13 9PT United Kingdom E-mail [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Medical records are a tenet of good medical practice and provide one method of communicating individual follow-up arrangements, informing research data, and documenting medical intervention.

Methods

The objective of this review was to look at one source (the published literature) of medical records used by foreign medical teams (FMTs) in sudden onset disasters (SODs). The published literature was searched systematically for evidence of what medical records have been used by FMTs in SODs.

Findings

The style and content of medical records kept by FMTs in SODs varied widely according to the published literature. Similarly, there was great variability in practice as to what happens to the record and/or the data from the record following its use during a patient encounter. However, there was a paucity of published work comprehensively detailing the exact content of records used.

Interpretation

Without standardization of the content of medical records kept by FMTs in SODs, it is difficult to ensure robust follow-up arrangements are documented. This may hinder communication between different FMTs and local medical teams (LMTs)/other FMTs who may then need to provide follow-up care for an individual. Furthermore, without a standard method of reporting data, there is an inaccurate picture of the work carried out. Therefore, there is not a solid evidence base for improving the quality of future response to SODs. Further research targeting FMTs and LMTs directly is essential to inform any development of an internationally agreed minimum data set (MDS), for both recording and reporting, in order that FMTs can reach the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for FMT practice.

JafarAJN, NortonI, LeckyF, RedmondAD. A Literature Review of Medical Record Keeping by Foreign Medical Teams in Sudden Onset Disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(2):1-7.

Keywords

datasetdisasterforeign aidmedical recordsreference standards
Type
Comprehensive Review
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , April 2015 , pp. 216 - 222
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Foreign Medical Team Working Group. World Health Organization Web site. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/fmt/en/. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
2. Noji, EK. The 1988 earthquake in Soviet Armenia: implications for earthquake preparedness. Disasters. 1989;13(3):255-262.Google Scholar
3. Global Health Cluster. Coordination and registration of providers of foreign medical teams in the humanitarian response to sudden onset disasters: a health cluster concept paper. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/fmt_concept_paper_27may2011.pdf?ua=1. Published 2011. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
4. Mills, EJ, Robinson, J, Attaran, A, et al. Sharing evidence on humanitarian relief. BMJ. 2005;331(7531):1485-1486.Google Scholar
5. Chu, K, Stokes, C, Trelles, M, Ford, N. Improving effective surgical delivery in humanitarian disasters: lessons from Haiti. PLoS Med. 2011;8(4):e1001025.Google Scholar
6. About the Global Health Cluster. World Health Organization Web site. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/about/en/index.html. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
7. Currier, M, King, DS, Wofford, MR, Daniel, BJ, deShazo, R. A Katrina experience: lessons learned. Am J Med. 2006;119(11):986-992.Google Scholar
8. Burnweit, C, Stylianos, S. Disaster response in a pediatric field hospital: lessons learned in Haiti. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2011;46(6):1131-1139.Google Scholar
9. Callaway, DW, Peabody, CR, Hoffman, A, et al. Disaster mobile health technology: lessons from Haiti. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):148-152.Google Scholar
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Post-earthquake injuries treated at a field hospital -- Haiti, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5951a1.htm. Published 2011. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
11. Hung KKC, Lam ECC, Chan EYY, Rainer TH, Graham CA. Disease patterns in a rural setting three weeks after the Sichuan earthquake. Hong Kong Red Cross Basic Health Clinic in Yanmen Town. Paper presented at Scientific Symposium on Emergency Medicine, SSEM 2010 Hong Kong; September 17-September 18, 2010; Hong Kong.Google Scholar
12. China earthquake. Thomas Reuters Foundation Web site. http://www.trust.org/spotlight/China-earthquake-2008. Accessed Sepetember 11, 2014.Google Scholar
13. Riddez, L, Kruck, M, Gardarsdottir, H, Redwood-Campbell, L. The surgical and obstetrical activity at the ICRC field hospital in Banda Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami 2004. International Journal of Disaster Medicine. 2005;3(1-4):55-60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Redwood-Campbell, LJ, Riddez, L. Post-tsunami medical care: health problems encountered in the International Committee of the Red Cross Hospital in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006;21(1):s1-7.Google Scholar
15. Lim, JH, Yoon, D, Jung, G, Kim, WJ, Lee, HCS. Medical needs of tsunami disaster refugee camps: experience in Southern Sri Lanka. Fam Med. 2005;37(6):422-428.Google Scholar
16. Kwak, YH, Shin, SD, Kim, KS, Kwon, WY, Suh, GJ. Experience of a Korean disaster medical assistance team in Sri Lanka after the South Asia tsunami. J Korean Med Sci. 2006;21(1):143-150.Google Scholar
17. Gerdin, M, Clarke, M, Allen, C, et al. Optimal evidence in difficult settings: improving health interventions and decision making in disasters. PLoS Med. 2014;11(4).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. de Ville de Goyet, C. Health lessons learned from the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Asia. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(1):15-21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Gueri, M, Guerra, ES, Gonzalez, LE, et al. Health implications of the Tumaco earthquake, Colombia, 1979. Disasters. 1983;7(3):174-179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20. Helminen, M, Saarela, E, Salmela, J. Characterisation of patients treated at the Red Cross field hospital in Kashmir during the first three weeks of operation. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(8):654-656.Google Scholar
21. Henderson, AK, Lillibridge, SR, Salinas, C, Graves, RW, Roth, PB, Noji, EK. Disaster medical assistance teams: providing health care to a community struck by Hurricane Iniki. Ann Emerg Med. 1994;23(4):726-730.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22. Nufer, KE, Wilson-Ramirez, G, Crandall, CS. Different medical needs between hurricane and flood victims. Wilderness Environ Med. 2003;14(2):89-93.Google Scholar
23. Pan American Health Organization. Natural disasters: protecting the public's health. http://www.preventionweb.net/files/1913_VL206114.pdf. Published 2000. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
24. Shinchi, K, Ashida, H. Proposal of a model for medical records for international disaster relief operations. Mil Med. 2003;168(2):120-123.Google Scholar
25. Kim, H, Han, SB, Kim, JH, Kim, JS, Hong, E. Post-Nargis medical care: experience of a Korean Disaster Relief Team in Myanmar after the cyclone. Eur J Emerg Med. 2010;17(1):37-41.Google Scholar
26. May, AK, McGwin, G Jr, Lancaster, LJ, et al. The April 8, 1998 tornado: assessment of the trauma system response and the resulting injuries. J Trauma. 2000;48(4):666-672.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27. General Medical Council. The duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council. www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/duties_of_a_doctor.asp. Published 2013. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
28. Good Medical Practice USA. Guide to good medical practice-USA. https://gmpusa.org/Docs/GoodMedicalPractice-USA-V1-1.pdf. Published 1999. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
29. Australian Medical Council. Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia. http://www.amc.org.au/images/Final_Code.pdf. Published 2009. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
30. Medical Council of India. Code of medical ethics regulations. http://www.mciindia.org/RulesandRegulations/CodeofMedicalEthicsRegulations2002.aspx. Published 2002. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
31. Medical Council Hong Kong. Code of professional conduct. http://www.mchk.org.hk/Code_of_Professional_Conduct_2009.pdf. Published 2009. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
32. Pakistani Medical and Dental Council. Code of ethics of practice for medical and dental practitioners. http://www.pmdc.org.pk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=v5WmQYMvhz4%3d&tabid=292&mid=845. Published 2010. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
33. Global Health Cluster. Classification and minimum standards for foreigh medical teams in sudden onset disasters. http://www.who.int/hac/global_health_cluster/fmt_guidelines_september2013.pdf. Published 2013. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
34. Lancet. Growth of aid and the decline of humanitarianism. Lancet. 2010;375(9711):253.Google Scholar
35. Department for International Development. HERR, Humanitarian Emergency Response Review. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67579/HERR.pdf. Published 2011. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
36. ELRHA - Enhancing Learning & Research for Humanitarian Assistance. ELRHA. http://www.elrha.org. Accessed September 11, 2014.Google Scholar
37. Roy, N, Shah, H, Patel, V, Coughlin, RR. The Gujarat earthquake (2001) experience in a seismically unprepared area: community hospital medical response. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2002;17(4):186-195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Jafar supplementary material

Appendix 1

Download Jafar supplementary material(File)
File 16.4 KB
Supplementary material: File

Jafar supplementary material

Appendix 2

Download Jafar supplementary material(File)
File 25.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

Jafar supplementary material

Appendix 3

Download Jafar supplementary material(File)
File 19.9 KB