New Emergency Medicine Faculty Opened in Selfoss 

In mid-August, a new unit opened in Selfoss, called the emergency medicine unit (BLD). The unit is an 8 bed care unit located at the emergency department (BMT) of the Healthcare Institution of South Iceland (HSU) and is intended for patients with acute health problems that mostly fall under medicine and related subspecialties.

The department receives patients from the emergency department (BMT) who need healthcare services that are not provided at the emergency department and are likely to take longer than 24 hours. It is important that patients admitted to the BLD fall within the level of specialization and service that HSU can provide. 

Objectives and priorities

The focus of BLD is to provide rapid, good and efficient service for all major acute health problems within the pharmacology field while protecting the safety of HSU clients. The objective of the department is to reduce the length of stay of patients in a hospital and to help discharge to appropriate resources as soon as possible.

Cooperation and training

The department of emergency medicine has one medical team, consisting of one specialist physician and one junior doctor, Generally Specialized General Medical Education (SGL). The junior doctor comes to HSU for formal study places in emergency medicine according to the appropriate specification. Such study places have so far only been available at the institution's health centres and therefore this is a new opportunity for medical students to gain experience in hospitals in emergency medicine within HSU.

Helgi Hafsteinn Helgason, Chief Medical Officer of the Icelandic Medicines Agency has been preparing for the opening and says about the staffing: 

“The medical staff comes from the pharmaceutical department on a day shift and consists of one medical student in a specialized training program and one specialist. Outside of day work, the emergency department’s doctors are responsible for the department. Nurses and paramedics are responsible for patients on BLD along with other patients in the emergency department. I also want to mention the importance of the involvement of physiotherapists and occupational therapists to reduce the duration of the stay and get people up earlier.”

The opening of the unit is a collaborative project of many people and reflects the close cooperation of HSU staff.

In February, extensive renovation of the HSU emergency room in Selfoss was initiated with the aim of improving facilities, increasing safety and strengthening services.