Cultura

Enhancing Maternal and Pediatric Care Through Interprofessional Collaboration: A Review of Health Assistant and Clinical Support Roles in Specialized Saudi Hospitals

VOLUME 21, 2024

The Role of Targeted Infra-popliteal Endovascular Angioplasty to Treat Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using the Angiosome Model: A Systematic Review

VOLUME 6, 2023

Fawaz Majed Ali Al-Mutairi, Falah Fawaz Falah Almutairi, Jaber Ahmad Mohsin Alshammari, Awwad Obid Alshammari, Khalid Salfag Fadan Aldhafeeri, Mathwd Fenaitl D Alshammari, Maslet F. Alshammari

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration has emerged as a critical framework for improving maternal and pediatric healthcare outcomes in contemporary hospital systems. This review examines the roles of health assistants and clinical support staff within specialized Saudi Arabian hospitals, exploring how collaborative practice models enhance care delivery, patient safety, and clinical efficiency. Through systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature and examination of role delineation within multidisciplinary teams, this study identifies key mechanisms through which laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, health informatics specialists, and administrative personnel contribute to maternal-child health services. Findings reveal that effective interprofessional collaboration requires structured communication protocols, clearly defined role boundaries, mutual respect among team members, and institutional support systems. Barriers to collaboration include hierarchical organizational cultures, inadequate training in teamwork competencies, and insufficient recognition of support staff contributions. The Saudi healthcare context presents unique opportunities for implementing collaborative frameworks within rapidly modernizing hospital infrastructures. This review demonstrates that systematic integration of clinical support roles into maternal-pediatric care teams correlates with reduced medication errors, improved laboratory turnaround times, enhanced health information management, and more efficient resource allocation. Recommendations emphasize the necessity of formal interprofessional education, standardized competency frameworks, and policy reforms recognizing the essential contributions of health assistants and clinical support professionals.

Keywords : interprofessional collaboration, maternal health, pediatric care, health assistants, clinical support staff.
Erin Saricilar
Lecture in accounting. University of Basrah, College of Administration and Economics, Department of Accounting.

Abstract

Atherosclerotic disease significantly impacts patients with type 2 diabetes, who often present with recalcitrant peripheral ulcers. The angiosome model of the foot presents an opportunity to perform direct angiosome-targeted endovascular interventions to maximise both wound healing and limb salvage. A systematic review was performed, with 17 studies included in the final review. Below-the-knee endovascular interventions present significant technical challenges, with technical success depending on the length of lesion being treated and the number of angiosomes that require treatment. Wound healing was significantly improved with direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty, as was limb salvage, with a significant increase in survival without major amputation. Indirect angioplasty, where the intervention is applied to collateral vessels to the angiosomes, yielded similar results to direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty. Applying the angiosome model of the foot in direct angiosome-targeted angioplasty improves outcomes for patients with recalcitrant diabetic foot ulcers in terms of primary wound healing, mean time for complete wound healing and major amputation-free survival.
Keywords : Diabetic foot ulcer, angiosome, angioplasty