Mobile Critical Care in Resource-Limited Settings: An Unmet Need

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Emergency medical services
• Global health

Background:

• Approximately 70% of patients in low-middle income countries (LMICs) require critical care.
• Many patients in resource-limited settings die before reaching a hospital due to delays in care.
• Existing healthcare infrastructure and geographical barriers limit access to intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the importance and role of mobile critical care units (MCCUs) in resource-limited settings.
• To highlight how MCCUs can enhance existing emergency medical systems.
• To explore the potential of MCCUs in overcoming barriers to critical care access.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion on the application of mobile critical care units.
• Analysis of the benefits of MCCUs in addressing transportation delays and accessibility issues.
• Exploration of the versatility of MCCUs in patient transfer and standalone critical care provision.

Main Results:

• MCCUs are crucial for reducing delays in critical care delivery in remote areas.
• These units offer versatile solutions, including inter-hospital transfers and short-term standalone critical care.
• MCCUs can bridge the gap in critical care access where traditional ICUs are unavailable or inaccessible.

Conclusions:

• Mobile critical care units (MCCUs) are vital for improving critical care delivery in resource-limited environments.
• Rethinking prehospital and hospital care paradigms to integrate MCCUs is essential.
• Focusing on a continuum of care from the field to the hospital is key to saving lives.