Thomas Judge addresses emergency health care challenges at special provost lecture
The University of New England recently hosted Thomas Judge, the founding executive director of LifeFlight of Maine, for a special lecture at the invitation of Gwen Mahon, Ph.D., UNE provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.
The event, held in the Alfond Center for Health Sciences on the University’s Biddeford Campus, drew over 40 attendees interested in the intersection of public policy and health care during rural health care emergencies.
Judge, who has over four decades of experience in emergency medical services, shared his insights into the design and implementation of emergency care systems both nationally and internationally. His work has spanned various sectors, including air medicine, patient safety, and health care policy, with a focus on access and equity, especially in rural medical care.
During the lecture, Judge emphasized the importance of improving triage and episodic care, stating, "We are stewards of precious health care resources."
He highlighted the challenges faced in emergency situations, such as scarcity of resources and the need for rapid decision-making in life-threatening scenarios. Judge recounted personal experiences that illustrated the critical role of emergency services in saving lives and the difficult choices that sometimes must be made due to resource limitations.
LifeFlight of Maine, under Judge's leadership, has been instrumental in providing critical care and emergency response services across Maine and New England. The organization serves over 40 hospitals and offers primary scene response, showcasing the value of integrated emergency services in a region where geographical challenges can impede timely medical intervention.
Judge's lecture also touched upon the seven pillars of health care quality: access, equity, effectiveness, efficiency, appropriateness, responsiveness, and safety. He called for a collective effort to enhance these aspects of health care to ensure that every individual receives the care they need when they need it.
The lecture concluded with a discussion on the moral and ethical considerations of health care provision, including the societal debate on whether health care is a right or a privilege. Judge's thought-provoking presentation left attendees with a deeper understanding of the critical issues facing emergency health care today and the ongoing efforts to address them.
