The Role of Emergency Medicine in Managing Health Crises Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iraq: Lessons Learned and Improvement Plans
Keywords:
Emergency medicine, COVID-19, Iraq, pandemic preparedness, healthcare crisis managementAbstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges to healthcare systems internationally, with emergency medicine departments being the front line of defense in many healthcare systems. In Iraq, the pandemic unfolded within the context of political instability, limited healthcare personnel, and a generally compromised healthcare infrastructure system.
Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the role of emergency medicine to confront health crises in Iraq, specifically related to COVID-19 through evaluation of the role of emergency medicine in their response to COVID-19, immediate challenges faced by emergency medicine, effort to learn from the experience, and building plans for improvement for a future pandemic.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach using both qualitative and quantitative inquiry, which included a retrospective analysis of the emergency department data from the two largest hospitals in Iraq (March 2020-December 2022), structured interviews with emergency medicine physicians, and an analysis of policy implementation from the government regarding their COVID response.
Results: During the peak periods in emergency care, there was a 340% increase of respiratory presentations. Some of the major challenges in emergency healthcare settings included shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE; 89% reported issues), burnout amongst staff (76% reported turnover in staff), and not enough isolation rooms. The emergency department engaged in some favorable changes such as telemedicine (67% utilized), and rapid triage protocol.
Conclusion: The response of emergency medicine to the COVID-19 crisis in Iraq was notable given the condition of the system, including the major effects system-wide. For future preparedness, there needs to be more resources allocated into emergency care, systematic staff training tools and programs, and integrating plans for crisis management.
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