The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple requests for EMT assistance in the Pacific Region. AUSMAT responded in six countries, sometimes simultaneously. The needs of the pandemic and the pressures on available resources to respond required development of innovative methods. One example is the “POP-O-MOP” tool.

Describe the evolution and utility of “POP-O-MOP” tool in building local capacity in Pacific health care systems facing COVID-19 outbreaks.

The initial aim of the tool was to assist in maximizing the response by providing a concise, one-page teaching tool to assist in training of local nursing staff. As the tool evolved over successive COVID-19 deployments in the Pacific Region, the scope grew to include medical and allied health staff, and the content was refined.

While the “POP-O-MOP” mnemonic provides an aide-memoir for steps of COVID-19 care at the bedside; it also provided a structure for facilitating training and interdisciplinary discussion amongst clinicians.

By utilizing this structured training face-to-face, video, and online formats, the number of staff able to treat COVID-19 patients was increased, drawing on novices and staff from non-critical care backgrounds.

Of significance, it was observed that while the technical skills included improved health response, the confidence gained by local staff in the brief training increased their desire to contribute to the COVID-19 response by overcoming stigma, fear, and the sense of futility.

The POP-O-MOP tool proved to be an effective tool to leverage in-country resources by providing effective just-in-time training for local health care workers.