E MERGENCY M EDICAL S ERVICES IN St. V INCENT AND THE G RENADINES

Abstract

Objective. This descriptive study reports the status of the health care infrastructure and the emergency medical services system in the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an eastern Caribbean nation made up of a series of small islands located 1,600 miles southeast of Miami. Methods. Data regarding the health care system and emergency medical services in the nation were gathered from various sources, including the Ministry of Health, government publications, hospital records, accident and emergency department logbooks, and interviews with physicians, nurses, and ambulance workers. Results. The health system is similar in structure to that of the United Kingdom. Generally, the health infrastructure and available staffing are adequate and comparable to those of developed nations. However, out-of-hospital emergency medical services are lacking in both equipment and trained personnel. Conclusion. These data should be useful to both policymakers and health professionals in formulating strategies for advancing emergency medical services in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and may also be instructive to other countries with developing emergency medical services systems.

• healthcare facilities
• manpower and services
• emergency medical services
• transportation of patients
• developing countries