Emergency Medicine in Samoa

15/09/2026

Standing in support of our Emergency Department colleagues in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Their message also gives us reason to reflect. We face similar pressures, and at times we may have become too accustomed to overcrowding, workforce shortages and working beyond capacity, treating it as “normal.”

Perhaps it shouldn’t be.
Normalising unsafe pressure can affect staff wellbeing, patient safety and the quality of care we provide.

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Tauranga and across Aotearoa.

"We are often working at more than 150-200% capacity, and I cannot recall any recent day when the ED was not running at over 100% capacity."

"Ultimately, patients pay the price for hospitals that are continuously understaffed and under-resourced.."

- John Wylie, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO delegate

Link to full media release in comment section.

14/09/2026

Another Monday means another opportunity for our Emergency Department team to learn, practise, and prepare.

Our weekly SimDays are not only about testing clinical skills. They are an important reminder of how we respond when an emergency happens — who does what, where to go, how to communicate, how to work together, and how to act quickly when every second counts.

In emergency care, we cannot wait for a real emergency to remember what to do.

Regular simulation helps reinforce our emergency response systems, refresh important skills, identify areas we can improve, and build confidence across the whole team. The more we practise together, the better prepared we are to respond together.

That is why our weekly teaching sessions matter. Even when the topic feels familiar, repetition is important. Guidelines change, teams change, skills need refreshing, and there is always something we can improve.

Every session is another opportunity to strengthen our teamwork, communication, clinical decision-making, and ultimately the care we provide to our patients.

Practice creates readiness.
Readiness builds confidence.
And confidence matters when emergencies happen.

Another Monday. Another SimDay. Another step towards a stronger Emergency Department.

07/09/2026

Today at our ED Grand Round, RN Vaasiliega Taefu Joseph Fauatea presented on an essential part of everyday nursing practice: Nursing Documentation and Clinical Handover.

In a busy Emergency Department, good patient care doesn’t stop with the clinical intervention. What we document and how we communicate matters.

Today’s session was also a great reminder for nurses and doctors that there is always room for improvement.

Even the things we do every day deserve revisiting. Good habits can become better habits, and strengthening the basics ultimately strengthens the care we provide to our patients.

A big fa’afetai tele lava to Vaasiliega for leading today’s discussion and reminding the team that good documentation and good handover are not simply paperwork, they are part of patient care.
Document clearly. Handover effectively. Keep our patients safe.

07/09/2026

Last week was a big week for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)!

Our Emergency Department collaborated with our colleagues from the Anaesthesia Department and visiting overseas faculty to deliver POCUS training for doctors working across different areas of healthcare.

We were pleased to welcome doctors from our district hospitals, as well as clinicians from the main hospital representing Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Internal Medicine and Outpatients, alongside colleagues from the private sector.

And for the first time, we were especially excited to welcome a doctor from American Samoa to join us for POCUS training, another step towards strengthening clinical education and connections across our Pacific region.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO) for its support of this training and its continued contribution towards strengthening healthcare capacity in Samoa.

POCUS is becoming an increasingly valuable bedside tool, particularly in Emergency, Acute and Critic Care, where rapid assessment and timely clinical decisions can make a significant difference.

A huge fa'afetai tele lava to our Anaesthesia colleagues, our visiting faculty, everyone who helped organise and support the training, and every clinician who made the time to attend.

Most importantly, we hope the skills gained are taken back to our hospitals, departments and communities improving access to bedside ultrasound wherever our patients present.

Building POCUS capacity in Samoa and strengthening connections across our Pacific region.

01/09/2026

This week at our Emergency Department Grand Rounds, RN Tofa Tinomineta Tuaumu led our team through a session on MIMMS – Major Incident Medical Management and Support.

Major incidents can happen without warning. When they do, a coordinated response depends on preparation, clear communication, effective leadership, triage, and teamwork.

For our Emergency Department, preparedness is not something we wait for an emergency to practise. It is something we continue to build through education, simulation, discussion, and teamwork.

A big fa’afetai to Tofa for leading this important Grand Round, and to our ED team for continuing to invest in learning and strengthening our emergency response capability.

Learn together. Prepare together. Respond together.

23/08/2026

After an incredible week at PISEC, the team is back on the drawing board and so are our regular teaching sessions!

Today we kicked things off again with SimDay Monday. A chance for our team to get back into simulation, practise clinical decision-making, communication, teamwork, and those critical skills needed when emergencies happen.

What a week PISEC was! Plenty of learning, sharing, and new experiences but now it’s time to bring that energy back into our department and continue building the team.

In Medicine, the learning never stops.

Back to the drawing board. Back to learning. Back to work.

09/07/2026

Join PISEC 2026. See you there

📆 August 13 - 14
📍 Taumeasina Island Resort

05/07/2026

PISEC 2026 is Coming to Samoa! 🌺

The countdown has begun! Join us this August as the Pacific Islands Society for Emergency Care (PISEC) 2026 Conference & Expo brings together emergency care professionals, partners, educators, and industry leaders from across the Pacific and beyond.

This year's theme:
"Strengthening the Pacific ECO System: Working Together for Our People"

Watch our official promo video and be part of the journey as we prepare for an unforgettable conference of learning, collaboration, innovation, and Pacific hospitality.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are still available. Showcase your organisation, connect with healthcare leaders and decision-makers from across the region, and support the future of emergency care in the Pacific.

📅 11–14 August 2026 📍 Samoa
For sponsorship enquiries, contact us via Facebook Messenger or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

05/07/2026

The PISEC 2026 Organising Committee proudly welcomes Fort Richard Laboratories as a Gold Sponsor!

We are proud to acknowledge Fort Richard Laboratories as a Gold Sponsor of the PISEC 2026 Scientific Conference.

Their generous support and partnership are helping strengthen emergency care across the Pacific and making this conference possible. Thank you for joining us in our mission to build a stronger, more resilient Pacific.

Working together for our people.

02/07/2026

This week's Grandround featured one of our up-and-coming Enrolled Nurses, EN Fou Pelesasa, who delivered an excellent presentation on Temperature as part of our ongoing Back to Basics education series.

Temperature is one of the most important vital signs, providing valuable clues about infection, inflammation, environmental illness, and many other medical conditions. Recognising abnormal temperatures early and understanding their clinical significance are essential skills for every healthcare worker in the Emergency Department.

We are proud to see our Enrolled Nurses taking on leadership roles in education and sharing their knowledge with the team. Investing in the development of all our staff strengthens our department and ultimately improves the care we provide to our patients.

💡Public Tip: A fever is often the body's natural response to infection, but very high fevers, persistent fever, or fever accompanied by confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures, or severe weakness should be assessed urgently by a healthcare professional.

Well done, EN Fou Pelesasa! Keep up the great work.