For over fifty years, ReSurge has been providing free reconstructive surgical care to individuals in LMICs. Empowerment of the local providers has been a principle goal. To this end, enhancement of the educational opportunities of anesthesia colleagues is essential to patient safety. Frequent educationally focused exchanges in the clinical settings take place between ReSurge and its partners. ReSurge leadership, volunteers and local staff recognize though that an intense exchange which focused on anesthetic considerations specific to the ones of our shared patients would be valuable. Nineteen anesthesia providers from Central and Southern Africa who have volunteered with ReSurge and have been recognized as valuable partners have been invited to this session. I will be speaking on anesthesia care for patients with major burns. Other topics that other conference members and I will be addressing are regional anesthesia, POCUS, difficult airway management, the application of emergency protocol guides. Active participation by the local providers will be required especially during the hands-on sessions of regional blocks, airway techniques, emergency scenarios, and infectious disease prevention. Discussions of cases, including those managed by the local providers, will require their participation. In preparation for this workshop, ReSurge has polled the participants to learn what areas of anesthesia practice would be most valuable to learn about in such a workshop. Clarity has been provided by the participants to what their general practices are like including staff and material resources, patient populations, and surgical procedures.
A vast number of individuals in Africa have limited access to safe, affordable surgical care. Although advancements are being made in training and in resources, a huge deficiency in anesthesia services exists. By participating in this ReSurge workshop, these 19 bright, enthusiastic anesthesia providers will be able to bring back to their medical community new skills and ideas. They will be encouraged to share them with colleagues, exercising the "ripple effect" of teaching. With enhanced safe anesthesia practice, thousands of patients will thrive after life changing surgery. ReSurge as an organization and its volunteers will also benefit. Of course, the direct exchange during the conference is enriching for all participants, many whom we know well already. One workshop outcome hopefully will be determination of how ReSurge can best assist it African anesthesia colleagues. Possibilities may be more workshops, clinical participation, material resources, conference grants. NGO resources always have their limitations. It is best to learn how they best be shared with the various receiving parties.
The principle goals of this workshop is improved patient safety and outcome of all patients in locations that ReSurge works. Since the NGO has long term affiliations with a number of hospitals and providers, the impact of the workshops will be sensed by the ReSurge volunteers, leadership, and local providers during the regular missions. The local partners also have ongoing communication with the ReSurge staff and report their progress. Retention of staff at a medical center and enthusiastic participation of local providers with NGO sponsored work are known challenges. Hopefully by providing an educational workshop which focus on areas interest in enhance enthusiasm and continuity in NGO related work as well as for everyday responsibilities.
You have heard from my workshop colleagues and ReSurge, International staff. I, too, believe that everyone’s effort was well worthwhile, and the workshop was a success. I anticipate its enduring, expanding impact and the delivery of health care. The African anesthesia providers and participants are now networking amongst themselves, exchanging practice ideas, and lending support. This may include visits to one another’s hospitals. They also expressed the appreciation of ReSurge and Doximity(indirectly) in facilitating their attendance of the important CANECSA meeting. Scientific presentations, hands-on workshops, panel discussions on pan-African surgical burden and on professional development enhanced the participants experience and toolbox.
Personally, I appreciated the overall experience. My foci for the ReSurge workshop included thermostability in the peri-operative setting, anesthesia for the burn patient, and the infection prevention. Throughout my career I have been involved with surgically focused NGOs, principally ReSurge, In’tl. Early on my participation was direct clinical care. Appropriately, as the global medical community has recognized, the emphasis or approach to relieving the surgical burden, is on empowerment of the local provider. Consequently, I have shifted more to the educator role in the clinical setting or in the classroom settings; this Doximity supported workshop provided an opportunity for the latter. As ReSurge expanded its empowerment efforts a few decades ago, the focus was on the development of the surgeon’s needs. Thankfully the NGO, with my and other volunteers’ encouragement, recognizes that strong anesthesia, nursing, pediatric, and OT/PT support is essential to good outcomes. Thank you, Doximity for the incredibly valuable support.
