PhD defence X.R.J. (Xavier) Moors

The Rotterdam HEMS provides care for patients of all ages and includes pediatric patients, which currently constitute 22% of all patients. The reason for calls to the HEMS are for a variety of critical situations which include sepsis, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, respiratory failure, and trauma. In order to provide the appropriate and adequate standard of medical care to vitally compromised or severely injured pediatric patients in the prehospital situation healthcare providers must have a high degree of ability and competence. Insight and understanding of procedures and applications can be obtained from studying the appropriate literature and attending relevant courses and seminars but there is no substitute for actual hands on experience and exposure. The importance of this exposure and experience of dealing with vitally compromised and seriously injured pediatric patients is illustrated in this thesis. To achieve the required levels of ability and maintain competency it is necessary to have frequent and appropriate exposure to vitally compromised and severely injured pediatric patients in real prehospital environments. There is no simple empirical rule to quantifying how much exposure or how often this exposure must be had in order to determine if the health care provider has fulfilled the requirements to qualify as a physician fit for HEMS duties. The evidence in this thesis illustrates that HEMS physicians gain experience rapidly and often enough to achieve high levels of competence. This thesis describes the results of studies conducted to investigate the benefit of HEMS in treating severely injured or critically ill children.

The public defence will take place at the Prof. Andries Queridoroom, 3rd floor Education Center, Erasmus MC. The ceremony will begin exactly at 15.30 PM. In light of the solemn nature of the ceremony, we recommend that you do not take children under the age of 6 to the first part of the ceremony.