Visiting Nepalese physician takes healthcare to new heights
If you’re treated by a physician in Nepal, there’s a chance that doctor has trained at Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
Westmead Hospital has the privilege to teach, and to learn from, visiting physicians from neighbouring countries each year.
Dr Bibek Rajbhandari is the recipient of an ACEM Global Emergency Care scholarship, a program designed to share knowledge within the medical community, and upskill staff and systems in developing nations.
The sponsorship allowed him to attend the ACEM annual scientific meeting, this year held of the Gold Coast.
His hospital in Nepal, Tribuhvan University Teaching Hospital, allowed him a two-month observership time and he chose Westmead for this opportunity.
“There are so many things to be learned here,” says Bibek.
Despite differences in resources, staff and equipment, Bibek says there are numerous skills and systems which can be brought back to his country to benefit staff and patients.
“In Nepal, as an emergency physician, we work as a one-man army system,” Bibek said.
“We burnout so easily out there, but here there’s a trauma team, a stroke team, airway team, etc. Everything is done in a teamwork manner,” Bibek said.
Bibek views this teamwork as the backbone of success, allowing for specialisation and easing pressure on the physician.
Another point of difference that stands out to him was the ambulance service.
“The prehospital setup, is really interesting out here, it's so robust,” Bibek said.
“Back in our country, we have many ambulance services, but they are not one door system, like here. Anyone can just pick up the patient and then come to the hospital,” Bibek said.
The Deputy Director of the Emergency Department Dr Kavita Varshney says the program is a great opportunity to share knowledge and experience, creating cross cultural connections.
“We see the same sort of chest pains and strokes all around the world, but it's the organisation and structure that can change outcomes. This is a great opportunity for Bibek to see some of those processes and to take some of that back,” Kavita said.
With examples such as heart attack or stroke, time is essential so robust transfer systems can dramatically impact the patient’s outcome.
“Infrastructure is improving in a lot of the developing countries, and this is the next step in helping them to establish some bigger picture organizational structure,” Kavita said.
Kavita has spent time in Nepal, assisting with establishing their emergency response framework.
She says that Bibek coming to Australia has had an incredible flow on effect on the staff at Westmead who have also enjoyed the experience.
“Staff here at Westmead have contributed to that education, that experience, that training, and feel like they're contributing back to Nepal’s health system as well,” Kavita said.