An Emergency Clinical Pathway for Eclampsia and Pre-Eclampsia Patients in the Lazio Region (Italy)
Paramedicine · 2008-01-01 · Implementation & quality improvement
Abstract
The Public Health Agency (PHA) of the Lazio region is the research branch of the local health authority where the capital city, Rome, is located. It is responsible for informing decision makers in the entire region of about six million people, including Rome and several smaller cities and towns. The PHA has played a significant role in the development of evidence-based guidelines which have been instrumental in the formation of pathways for several critical health conditions requiring emergency care. Additionally, these pathways have been used to implement a multidimensional education program which serves to improve emergency health care through the provision of resources and outreach visits to health professionals and other clients of the PHA. Critical health conditions covered in the program include: acute stroke, acute myocardial infarction, severe trauma, acute respiratory failure, paediatric emergencies and pregnancy complications. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are serious complications of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia occurs in about 3-5% of pregnancies and is an important cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. 1 As the Lazio region of Italy treats more cases of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in rural, than urban areas where the closest hospital can be up to several kilometres away, prompt intervention by emergency personnel is particularly important. In 2006, data sourced from hospital records i in the Latium region showed: