Effects of COVID-19 on STEMI Patients: Single-Center Experience.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volume of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and also to assess changes in patient characteristics, door-in-to-door-out (DIDO) time, door-to-balloon time (D2B) time, and STEMI outcomes during the pandemic. Methods: Patient data were retrieved retrospectively from the electronic medical record system of King Hamad University Hospital and Mohammed Bin Khalifa Cardiac Centre in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Data were compared and analyzed for the two time periods: before the pandemic (January 2019-March 2020) and during the pandemic (April 2020June 2021). Results: There was a decline of 11.1% in patients who presented with STEMI during the pandemic. There were no major differences between the patient demographics and the baseline characteristics during the two study periods. Recommended DIDO time and D2B time could be achieved only for 7.1% and 35.7% of all STEMI cases during the pandemic. However, no significant differences were noted in the 30 days of mortality, reinfarction, cardiogenic shock, hospital length of stay, and return to the hospital within 30 days for the STEMI patients in the two time periods. Conclusions: There was a decline in patients who presented with STEMI during the pandemic. This was also associated with a lower number of STEMI cases achieving the recommended DIDO time and D2B time as compared to the prepandemic period. However, there was no significant difference in the patient outcomes in the two time periods.

Correction to: Evolution of emergency medical services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Healthcare providers' perspectives on family presence during resuscitation in the emergency departments of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, policies exist on family presence during resuscitation (FPDR), however, this is still lacking in the Gulf Corporation Countries (GCC) in general and in the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular. The aim of this study is to assess the perspectives of healthcare providers (HP) on FPDR among those working in the emergency departments (EDs) in the Kingdom. METHODS: A self-administered anonymous electronic survey was collected from 146 HPs (emergency physicians and nurses) working in the three major EDs in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Besides demographic data, 18 items measuring HPs' perceptions of FPDR were generated using the 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Surveys (n = 146) from physicians and nurses were analysed (45.9% vs. 54.1%, respectively). There were significant differences between physicians and nurses in terms of personal beliefs, FPDR enhancing professional satisfaction and behaviour, and the importance of a support person and saying goodbye (p < 0.001). However, general responses demonstrated that the majority of HPs encouraged and supported FPDR, but with greater support from physicians than nurses. CONCLUSION: The study reflects that many HPs in EDs participated in and are familiar with FPDR, with the majority of ED physicians supporting it. Further studies should investigate the reasons for the lack of support from nurses. Results may contribute to the development of hospital ED policies that allow FPDR in the region.

Evolution of emergency medical services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Emergency medical services (EMS) is crucial to any healthcare system, especially in urban countries. The Kingdom of Bahrain has always strived to develop healthcare services throughout the Kingdom including EMS. Like any other country, the Kingdom has gone through several stages in the provision of EMS. This article will focus on the development of EMS in the Kingdom and its evolution from a scattered hospital-based system to a unified system, which ensures ease of access for the population and speed of delivery to the healthcare facilities. The major focus will be the most recent national project which is the National Ambulance.

Correction to: Emergency Medicine in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Following the publication of the original article [1], it was brought to our attention that author Leena Alqasem was erroneously included as Leena Alqusem.

Emergency Medicine in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

It has been more than a decade since emergency medicine became recognized as a specialty in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In the last fifteen years emergency medicine has widely established itself and developed rapidly in the Kingdom. The three main emergency departments are: Salmanyia Medical Complex (SMC), Royal Medical Services of Bahrain Defence Force (RMS-BDF) and King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) are now fully equipped and operated by a majority of board certified emergency physicians.Standardized protocols, and the Central National Ambulance will be established in the near future, and the ambulances will offer both basic and advanced life support by trained nurses and paramedics.Emergency Medicine residency training programs were established in the main three hospitals in Bahrain for the Arab Board Certification initially, while currently only two hospitals, BDF hospital and KHUH are recognized as training centers for the Saudi Board Residency Program.This article will focus on many aspects related to emergency medicine in the Kingdom of Bahrain including: history of health care systems in Bahrain, hospitals and primary care, disaster management, Emergency medical services (EMS), hospital-based emergency care, training in emergency medicine and universities. We aim to present Bahrain's past and existing emergency medicine experience, our perspective about the existing challenges faced by the specialty, and the future plans for the advancement of emergency medicine in the Kingdom.