title: Emergency medicine in the Third World: two years as director of the Kingston, Jamaica, Public Hospital Casualty Department.
abstract: A US emergency physician worked for two years as director of a busy emergency department in a large public hospital in Kingston, Jamaica (West Indies). As expected, medical practice in the Third World required caring for patients with far less than he was accustomed to in the way of diagnostic and therapeutic resources. However, more than one lesson in clinical medicine was provided by local approaches to local problems. Despite resource limitations, innovations and improvements were effected, particularly in wound care. Although working in the Third World can be a rewarding experience, well-meaning health workers from advantaged countries should ensure that their efforts contribute to, rather than detract from, the ability of their hosts to independently provide medical care.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Detroit Receiving Hospital/University Health Center, Michigan 48201.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Berk
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D014194:Traumatology; D014218:Triage; D000078329:Workforce; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy