Organizing Your Environment

One of the challenges when moving from a high- to low-resource setting is having to take more direct responsibility for your own drugs and equipment than you may be used to. In some circumstances you may be starting from nothing and may have limited time to get ‘up and running’. The chapter focuses on practical aspects of setting up an anaesthetic service in resource-poor locations. It contains sections on the minimum expected standards for drugs, equipment, and staffing. As well the operating theatre environment it also contains sections on setting up an emergency room (ER), critical care area, and recovery area, as well as guidance on triage of patients.