As part of the EMSSA/ECCSA conference in Sun City we attended an update on where we are with the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) in the Emergency Care field of South Africa.
Introducing the topic Michael McCaul (researcher from the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Stellenbosch University) gave us an overview of his research on the perceptions of the prehospital industry on the new CPGs in order to strengthen guideline uptake by engaging with decision makers like the HPCSA and National Department of Health (NDoH).
This was followed with Maryna Venter making a very good case for the need for specilisation of critical care retrieval practitioners.
Finally Ben van Nugteren gave us an update about where the current CPG updates are and what aspects are holding back possible implementation.
Strengthening Guideline uptake – equipping decision makers for evidence informed policy
Michael introduced the background and rationale leading up to his research. The main aim was to explore the perceptions of prehospital providers regarding the dissemination and implementation of the new Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) with the South African context. To this end, the results should guide decision makers (like National Department of Health (NDoH) + HPCSA) to better disseminate and implement the new guidelines in a manner that will support the prehospital profession. This project used implementation research methods, a process where decision makers are involved from the outset, so that the evidence translates to real change in policy, downstream.
Michael emphasised that this research is a snapshot in time but gives useful themes to help us understand what influenced providers perceived perceptions of the CPGs. He said it’s like understanding what things influence the lens by which prehospital providers view the guidelines and how those perceptions and expectations influence our perceived reality.
Michael noted that they identified key factors that influenced emergency care providers perceptions of the guidelines:
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) history and different qualifications
- Previous exposure and experience with CPGs
- Our expectations
- How providers were communicated with
This resulted in three main perceived realities regarding the guidelines:
- Providers were excited about the increase in scope and the new opportunities
- Concern and disappointment as skills were removed (like intubation) and paramedics felt they lost their identity, or have become redundant
- Educational and financial constraints for upskilling were introduced
Michael also highlighted various barriers and facilitators regarding both dissemination and implementation of the guidelines emphasised by prehospital providers:
Lastly, Michael told us about the next steps of this project which is currently underway – engaging with national decision makers (NDoH, HPCSA PBEC, Higher education institutions, Industry employers and professional societies like the Emergency Care Society of South Africa) on disseminating the results and doing workshops to produce implementable solutions. He noted the PBEC are aware of the results and he will be further corresponding with them to strengthen the uptake of the guidelines for all. Michael reiterated that guideline implementation is a long and difficult process and that the first step is to engage stakeholders to be part of the solution. Michael and the team will provide feedback of the stakeholder engagements once that phase has been completed in late 2017, early 2018.
Michael also presented on the methods and lessons learnt in producing the original CPG as a methodologist for the AFEM core guideline panel.
Critical Care Transfers (retrieval) – Moving Forward
Maryna Venter (ECP ALS paramedic with special interest in neonatal ICU retrieval and transportation)
A move toward specialization in care in SA emergency medical services.
Critical care transfers CANNOT be a step down in care – we need to match their care/equipment. @maryna_venter #emssa2017
— Jo Park-Ross | badEM (@JoParkRoss) October 3, 2017
Spaghetti defines Critical Care for EMS: “Dynamic comprehensive care of the patient with an acute or chronic illness needing transportation”
The challenge with an improving healthcare system, sicker patients are staying alive for longer, and the management of these patient is getting more and more complex.
Critical Care retrieval is becoming more about escalating care and managing the incredibly sick patient from an already high level of care to another specialised level of care, in a moving environment, with even more challenges than we ever expected.
Critical care "transfers": Is it that easy? When you think transfer you often think spaghetti. @maryna_venter #emssa2017 pic.twitter.com/0iOhRui8aB
— Kyleigh Rodrigues (@Kylz13) October 3, 2017
Transportation of the critical care patient MUST be either an upgrade in care, or continuation of care at the level at which the patient is currently managed. If we have all the fancy toys and vents, and pumps and ECMO, who is or should be managing the process? Internationally combination teams appear to be the standard, in Africa, the resources are limited, and a multi-system approach may be impossible.
So who should be doing these transfers? THE NERD… the one who has done the additional work, reading, practical skill acquisition.
SAfrican critical care – transfers should be done by those who are appropriately educated. @maryna_venter #emssa2017
— Jo Park-Ross | badEM (@JoParkRoss) October 3, 2017
Maryna reiterated that “load and go” for these incredibly sick patients is probably NOT the best approach to management, as the critical care patient has multi-faceted needs.
Equipment must be specialised to account for the sick patient – we cannot be downgrading the level of care for transportation to upgrade for additional level of care in another facility.
Often the equipment we have available or we think we need is not appropriate for a critical care retrieval. @maryna_venter #emssa2017 pic.twitter.com/2TQjvr7JgJ
— Kyleigh Rodrigues (@Kylz13) October 3, 2017
So the bottom line for retrieval and out of hospital critical care in South Africa is clearly going to be a challenge, change is inevitable and in doing so we are going to have to challenge some established practice. Change is coming, it’s going to be good, but at times it will be tough.
We need to advance critical care training in South Africa @maryna_venter #emssa2017 pic.twitter.com/gDa0pG5zfz
— Jo Park-Ross | badEM (@JoParkRoss) October 3, 2017
Out-of-hospital Clinical Practice Guideline
Ben Van Nugteren discussed the current process on the Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Disclaimer – The discussion and update provided today is based on his capacity as the Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee at the PBEC, and cannot be viewed as the full Board’s view.
Misperception
Ben gave some context to the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). There was an incorrect perception that the CPGs were “leaked” to only certain emergency care providers. This was an unfortunate perception as the CPGs were circulated to employers, professional bodies and societies, educational institutions and via the PBEC website. Unfortunately, as a result of an administrative hurdle, the research methodology section was not uploaded with the actual CPGs. As a matter of interest by law, formal communication to registered professionals needs to occur via registered post, and the PBEC realised the time and costs linked to such an approach would not be feasible. With the modernisation of the PBEC business processes, this arduous task will hopefully be streamlined going forward. There was never an intention to “hide’ the document from anyone.
Commentary
This was the first time the PBEC had undertaken a task like this inviting open comment via email, once again demonstrating the PBEC’s willingness to receive feedback from prehospital providers. Approximately 90 comments were made, whereupon the PBEC categorised the comments according to themes (i.e. education related, personal views/expressions, implementation etc). Many of the comments centered around the fact that the identity of providers was linked to their list of capabilities. The PBEC sees this as an important factor, but it cannot be seen in isolation. The question of professional identity linked with an endotracheal tube is not in the public’s interest, but rather, whether or not that endotracheal tube is “good for the member of public”. To date, that question remains unanswered, globally. Simply put, the test is, “is the intervention good for the member of the public, not whether there is skill proficiency”.
Implementation (Not Yet – Too much redtape)
Regarding implementation, the PBEC has engaged with universities regarding the implementation of the CPGs within the curriculum of the programmes offered within that space. This is easily done as part of an already existing evidence-based approach to clinical education. Regarding CPG implementation for the other tiers of qualification, regulatory bodies such as the Medicines Control Council are closely working with the PBEC to determine a controlled, legal process leading to implementation. All of these changes in practice require regulatory grounding. An important question that the PBEC is pondering – what level of responsibility, accountability and ownership do independently registered professionals have within this CPG process.
In closing, the PBEC stressed that the CPG implementation can only be successfully implemented in the presence of robust emergency service regulations.
This post was co-created during the EMSSA/ECSSA conference that took place in Sun City.
