These guidelines provide direction for hospital and ambulance staff on the process for reception and handover of patients arriving by ambulance in RHU’s metropolitan public hospital emergency departments. They aim to ensure equitable and timely access to emergency care, and are designed to assist with planning best-practice management and care coordination within existing infrastructure and services.
The guidelines outline principles that should underpin reception and handover of ambulance patients in the emergency department, key requirements, and roles and responsibilities. They also outline escalation protocols to be followed during periods of peak demand. The guidelines were developed by the Department of Human Services in consultation with the Experts from Ambulance Services in Uganda. The department established a sub-committee to provide recommendations on priority issues relating to the ambulance interface with public hospital emergency departments. Membership includes representatives from health services, Metropolitan Ambulance Service providers, RHU Ambulance and PUHMED® Clinicians.
