Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for a significant percentage of the global burden of neurosurgical disease. In high-income countries, these factors are readily assessed and addressed to maintain a swift patient flow and positive neurosurgical outcomes. However, in low- and middle-income countries, the infrastructure pertaining to emergency neurosurgical triage is often poorly managed and understood. Data surrounding practices in emergency neurosurgical triage in LMICs is necessary for addressing fundamental economic, workforce, education and geographic problems that play a vital role in shaping patient outcomes.

Building on the work of previous teams, this team reviewed neurosurgical system strategic plans developed for Nigeria and Uganda and collaborated with stakeholders and policy-makers in both countries to validate and implement these plans. 

Team members aimed to:

1. Assess the current patient triage system in neurosurgical care and identify its strengths and weaknesses
2. Determine the key factors affecting patient triage decisions in neurosurgical care
3. Design a patient triage model that accounts for criticality, resource availability, and healthcare costs

A new subteam also began evaluating systems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Team members worked on a systematic review of neurosurgical literature in the country and is preparing a manuscript for publication.

Learn more about this team’s work by reading their team profile.

Timing

Fall 2023 – Summer 2024

Team Outputs

Enhancing Patient Triage for Neurosurgical Care (Team profile; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Barriers to Neurosurgical Service Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

Enhancing Patient Triage for Neurosurgical Care: A Mixed Methods Approach (Poster)

Neurosurgical triage interventions for LMICs

Quantitative and qualitative data on neurosurgical patient outcomes in Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This Team in the News

Meet the Winners of the 2024 Bass Connections Student Research Awards

See related teams,Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries (2024-2025) and Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries (2022-2023).