Preparation of the resuscitation room and patient reception

Experience from the Role 3 Medical Treatment Facility in Afghanistan has allowed the development of a variety of processes to improve management of seriously injured patients. This review describes some of the techniques that facilitate the reception of the patient in the Emergency Department. In particular the preparation of the team and the resuscitation bay, and the way the team members work together to optimise assessment and resuscitation while minimising delay to imaging and surgery. Within this context the systems described have been refined and function effectively. Many of these lessons may be relevant to future deployments.