Head of Department
La Quoc Trung
Department of Emergency Medicine
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Department of Emergency Medicine
INTRODUCTION
History and Development:
The Department of Emergency Medicine is one of the key clinical departments of Tra Vinh General Hospital, playing a frontline role in receiving, triaging, resuscitating and managing emergency patients. The department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays, always ready to respond to any emergency and helping protect the lives and health of the people.
The department was established on 03 June 2008 by decision of the former Tra Vinh Provincial Department of Health, separated from the Outpatient Department to meet the need for specialized development in the hospital's emergency and resuscitation services.
In its early days, the department faced many difficulties with facilities, equipment and staffing. However, with the attention of the hospital's Board of Directors and the Provincial Department of Health, together with the solidarity and sense of responsibility of its staff, the department has progressively received investment to complete its infrastructure, add modern equipment and improve the quality of its workforce.
Over many years of development, the Department of Emergency Medicine has continuously innovated, enhanced its professional capacity and implemented many advanced emergency and resuscitation techniques, meeting the needs of treating severe and critical cases such as cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, multiple trauma, all types of shock and many other emergencies. The department also works closely with clinical and paraclinical departments within the hospital and participates in pre-hospital emergency care, natural disaster and catastrophe response, and mass casualty care when required.
In addition to medical examination and treatment, the Department of Emergency Medicine actively participates in training and practical instruction for medical students and trainees; conducts scientific research and quality improvement, and updates treatment protocols in line with Ministry of Health guidelines, contributing to improving the hospital's quality of care.
Today, the Department of Emergency Medicine has a team of doctors and nurses with specialized training in resuscitation and emergency care, always working in a spirit of "Urgency - Professionalism - Dedication", meeting patient care needs in every situation. The department is equipped with many modern emergency devices such as patient monitoring systems, ventilators, defibrillators, syringe pumps, a central oxygen system, electrocardiographs and other resuscitation equipment, helping improve treatment effectiveness.
Building on its tradition of solidarity, responsibility and continuous innovation, the Department of Emergency Medicine is determined to keep improving professional quality, refining emergency procedures and building a professional working environment, with patient-centered care as its goal, contributing to the continued growth of Tra Vinh General Hospital and meeting the healthcare needs of the people.
Functions and Responsibilities:
- Receives emergency patients 24/7. Provides pre-hospital emergency care in Nguyet Hoa Ward, Tra Vinh Ward and some neighboring areas within a 10 km radius
- Closely links and coordinates with clinical departments to determine the fastest and best treatment plans.
- The department is capable of handling all emergency situations, such as:
+ Respiratory emergencies: Acute respiratory failure, severe asthma attacks, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe pneumonia, acute pneumothorax, severe pulmonary embolism …
+ Gastrointestinal emergencies: acute pancreatitis, hepatic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding,…
+ Cardiovascular emergencies: hypertensive crisis, acute coronary syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, severe arrhythmias,…
+ Surgical emergencies: hollow organ perforation, biliary tract infection, gastrointestinal tumors, strangulated inguinal hernia, …
+ Neurological emergencies: acute stroke, polyradiculoneuropathy, acute headache …
+ Thoracic - vascular emergencies: penetrating chest wounds, massive pleural effusion – pneumothorax, …
+ Poisoning and environmental emergencies: food poisoning, sleeping pill poisoning, rodenticide poisoning, electric shock, heatstroke, drowning ,….
PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS
- Emergency reception and management 24/7
+ Continuous emergency duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays and Lunar New Year (Tet).
+ Rapid reception of all emergency cases from the community, referring healthcare facilities and departments within the hospital.
+ Emergency triage to prioritize timely treatment for critically ill patients.
- Comprehensive emergency resuscitation capacity
The department can effectively perform advanced resuscitation and emergency techniques, including:
+ Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to updated guidelines.
+ Endotracheal intubation, difficult airway management and invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
+ Defibrillation, emergency cardiac pacing and management of life-threatening arrhythmias.
+ Treatment of all types of shock: septic shock, anaphylactic shock, hypovolemic shock, cardiogenic shock.
+ Emergency care for stroke, acute coronary syndrome and acute respiratory failure.
+ Emergency care for poisoning, multiple trauma, traffic accidents, occupational accidents and other critical conditions.
- Effective multidisciplinary coordination
+ Close coordination with the Internal Medicine, Surgery, Intensive Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory and other specialty departments in managing critically ill patients.
+ Effective implementation of the in-hospital Code Red (Red Alert) activation protocol, shortening emergency response time and improving patient survival rates.
+ Safe transfer of cases beyond the department's professional capacity.
- Highly qualified workforce
+ Doctors and nurses with specialized training in emergency medicine and resuscitation.
+ Regular participation in continuing education and updates on new treatment guidelines from the Ministry of Health and professional associations.
+ A strong sense of responsibility, good teamwork and rapid response in emergency situations.
- Ensuring patient safety
+ Applying standard technical procedures in emergency care.
+ Implementing infection control and patient safety in accordance with regulations.
+ Managing emergency medicines, consumables and equipment according to procedures, ensuring they are always ready for use.
TRAINING & RESEARCH
Training
Current staffing (2026): 61 staff
Doctors: 21 (01 Specialist Doctor Grade II (CKII), 03 Specialist Doctors Grade I (CKI), 17 medical doctors (MD))
Nurses: 36 (26 with a bachelor's degree in nursing, 10 with a college diploma in nursing)
Support staff: 4
Target by 2030: 72 - 80 staff, ensuring 24/7 coverage for a 40-bed capacity.
a) Training plan
- Doctors: 01 - 02 Specialist Doctors Grade II (CKII) (Emergency Medicine/Intensive Care); 03 - 05 Specialist Doctors Grade I (CKI); 2 - 5 doctors per year in short-term training on electrocardiography and emergency resuscitation.
Nurses: 01 nurse with postgraduate training; 4 - 6 nurses per year in short-term training on emergency resuscitation, infection control and critical patient care.
b) Recruitment plan for 2026 - 2027: Recruit additional support staff (orderlies, IT).
2029: Recruit approximately 16 new staff (05 doctors, 11 nurses) to meet the 40-bed capacity.
Scientific research
Project: “Determining the needs of the Department of Emergency Medicine of Tra Vinh General Hospital in 2026 and forecasting its staffing needs for the 2026 - 2030 period”
EQUIPMENT
Key equipment currently in use:
- Electrocardiograph (ECG)
- Ventilators
- Monitors
- Syringe pumps
- Nebulizers
- Defibrillators
- Bedside ultrasound machine
STAFF
- Head of Department: 01 Head of Department, a Specialist Doctor Grade II (CKII), responsible for managing and directing the department's activities.
- Deputy Head of Department: 01 Deputy Head of Department, a Specialist Doctor Grade I (CKI), supporting management and clinical work.
- Total number of doctors: 21 doctors, performing examination and treatment and implementing advanced techniques.
- Nurses: 36 nurses, responsible for patient care and performing emergency and resuscitation nursing procedures.
- Pharmacists: No pharmacist is currently assigned to the department; pharmacy work is coordinated with the Department of Pharmacy.
- Other staff: Administrative, logistics and other support staff serving the department's operations.
