The University of Cape Town’s Division of Emergency Medicine developed a suite of National Prehospital Clinical Decision Support Tools (CDSTs) to improve the quality, safety, and consistency of emergency care delivered by EMS providers across South Africa. 

Led by Prof Peter Hodkinson and a multidisciplinary team including Drs Willem Stassen, Wesley Craig, Monique Venter, Colleen Saunders, Lauren Lai-King, Waseela Khan, and Clint Hendrikse, the project was developed in partnership with the Professional Board for Emergency Care (PBEC) and the Knowledge Translation Unit at UCT. 

The tools consist of 24 condition-specific modules that support the clinical decision-making of EMS providers managing a wide range of emergencies—from trauma and seizures to psychiatric emergencies and neonatal care. The tools are rooted in the 2016 national Clinical Practice Guidelines and designed to be clear, usable, and aligned with on-the-ground realities.

This work strengthens national EMS practice and reflects UCT’s ongoing commitment to health system innovation and emergency care leadership.