Rate My Professor Natalee Williams-Claassen

Williams-Claassen holds a Master of Technology in Emergency Medical Care from Durban University of Technology, completed in 2013. Her master's thesis, titled 'Development of a disinfection protocol for the public sector Emergency Medical Services in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal,' addressed the absence of a national policy for infection control in South Africa's prehospital environment. The study utilized qualitative multiple case studies across three phases: focus group discussions with operational and management staff to identify protocol factors, development of an ambulance-specific disinfection protocol using international guidelines, and implementation and evaluation at seven ambulance bases using open-ended questionnaires. Key findings highlighted themes in infection control, recommending staff training, a dedicated EMS policy, increased resources, and infection control supervisors to reduce risks to staff and patients. She co-authored a research critique, 'Application of the Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation system can reduce microbial surface contamination in ambulance compartments,' evaluating UVGI efficacy for ambulance disinfection, its variations by fixture location and surface reflectivity, and practical challenges in prehospital infection control, particularly relevant during outbreaks like COVID-19. Her work centers on prehospital emergency care, infection prevention, and disinfection protocols in emergency medical services.