Waikato Hospital worldwide search for ED director
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Waikato Hospital has begun a worldwide search for a new clinician to
head its emergency department, not only one of the busiest in the
country but soon to be the newest.
Dr Shameem Safih, the department's clinical director for 10 years,
takes up a position as Health Waikato southern rural hospitals emergency
departments clinical director next month.
Waikato Hospital group manager Dr Grant Howard said he was determined
to find a clinical director to provide operational, professional and
governance leadership.
"Our emergency team has a vision and single-minded pursuit of being
world class.
"I am personally determined to find a clinical director of the
calibre our emergency team deserves," said Dr Howard.
Waikato Hospital has the biggest regional trauma catchment in New
Zealand - more than 860,000 people in the Midland region. The current
emergency department sees more than 54,000 patients a year. When Dr
Safih started in 2000, there were 43,000 patients.
A new emergency department will be ready to occupy in January next
year.
It will have 65 spaces compared to 52 currently, four resus rooms,
double the current number and two purpose-build procedural sedation
rooms.
There will also be a larger area for children with 16 bed spaces, up
from eight, and including six purpose-built short stay beds for
paediatrics.
Above the emergency department, on two levels, there will be a new
medical assessment unit with 100 beds.
"It will get everyone else in the organisation playing their role in
the management of acute care patients," says Dr Safih.
The Fijian doctor has seen many changes in the last decade. He believes
Hamilton has become a more violent city.
"There's a lot more assaults. Knifes, weapons, kicks and punches
all resulting in multiple serious injuries."
He also believes lowering of the drinking age to 18 made emergency
departments busier places.
Low point of his time in the department also includes the increasing
numbers of teenagers presenting drunk.
"When the drinking age lowered we saw a definite increase in the
number of teenage drunks - about 13, 14 and 15 years old. They become
really, really drunk."
ENDS