Magen David Adom emergency services and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are affiliating in an academic initiative designed to improve training for paramedics and emergency medical technicians, as well as improve the quality of pre-hospital emergency care in Israel and potentially around the world.
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"Just as some of the most innovative and leading-edge medical centers are designated as 'teaching hospitals,' we're officially making Magen David Adom a teaching EMS organization," said Eli Jaffe, deputy director for community health and a paramedic at Magen David Adom.
The affiliation, he added, will enhance MDA's research abilities and expose the organization to a broader international audience through academic journals.
Professor Chaim Hames, BGU's rector (provost), said "we value and recognize the professional and academic ability of MDA's leaders who are experts in emergency medicine, response to multi-casualty events and the management of the nation's blood services. Through this enhanced academic affiliation, we will be playing a major role in improving the training of paramedics who will be using our new simulation center and expect to participate in joint research that could lead to developments in the EMS field, and ultimately, save more lives."
