title: Mobile emergency (surgical) hospital: Development and application in medical relief of "4.20" Lushan earthquake in Sichuan Province, China.
abstract: In the 21st century, natural disasters and emergencies occur frequently worldwide, which leads to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives as well as the direct and indirect economic losses. China has a vast territory frequently struck by natural disasters. However, the reality is not optimistic. Poor organization and management during the rescue actions, the lack of large-scale, systematic medical rescue equipment were all great barriers to the outcomes. Mobile hospitals are expected to provide better health care. We were inspired by the concept of mobile hospital. Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, has set up trauma care system since 1988, in which prehospital care, intensive care, and in-hospital treatment is fully integrated. As a major advantage, such a system provided assurance of "golden hour" rescue treatment. Providing mobile intensive care and prehospital surgical service for severe trauma patients could reduce mortality significantly. Based on the civilian experiences in Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, the mobile emergency (surgical) hospital was developed.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing 400042, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ruo-Fei
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ding-Yuan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Guang-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: An-Ning
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Rong-Gang
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D055866:Earthquakes; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D012066:Relief Work; D018635:Rescue Work