Dr Jaco Slabbert – Emergency Medicine Specialist – Stellenbosch

Dr Jaco Slabbert – Emergency Medicine Specialist – Stellenbosch

Dr Jaco Slabbert is a board‑certified Emergency Medicine Specialist at Mediclinic Stellenbosch, with over 30 years of clinical and leadership experience. He earned his MBChB from the University of Stellenbosch in 1990. Moreover, in 1993 he completed a Diploma in Critical Care (DKG (SA)) through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. Then in 2011, he furthered his expertise by obtaining an MMed in Emergency Medicine from the University of Stellenbosch.

Early in his career, Dr Slabbert honed his skills as an emergency physician in the United Kingdom, followed by a role as Ship Physician with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Subsequently, he served as a Critical Care Associate and Transport Physician in Canada, where he managed complex aeromedical transfers. Furthermore, he established the first dedicated Emergency Medicine department at Worcester Hospital, a 256‑bed regional facility handling over 50,000 annual emergency visits. Consequently, Dr Slabbert brings a wealth of international expertise and proven leadership to each shift in the Emergency Centre.

Importantly, he now leads the Emergency Centre at Mediclinic Stellenbosch. His approach blends rapid decision‑making with compassionate support, which fosters trust among patients and families. Meanwhile, he emphasizes clear communication and shared decision‑making to ensure that every patient feels informed and safe.

Services

Dr Slabbert provides a comprehensive suite of emergency medicine services, each delivered with precision and patient‑centred focus:

• Trauma Management
  He oversees the emergency care of polytrauma patients using advanced resuscitation protocols and damage‑control principles, ensuring timely interventions.

• High‑Performance CPR
  He leads resuscitation teams with real‑time feedback devices, optimizing chest compressions and improving survival outcomes.

• Advanced Airway Management
  He performs rapid sequence intubation and video laryngoscopy, securing airways swiftly in critical scenarios.

• Emergency Ultrasound (eFAST & PoCUS)
  He utilizes point‑of‑care ultrasound to make rapid diagnoses in trauma, cardiac, and abdominal emergencies, thereby expediting treatment.

• Critical Care Transfers
  He coordinates aeromedical and ground transport, maintaining patient stability with portable ventilators and hemodynamic monitoring.

• Sepsis Protocols
  He implements early goal‑directed therapy, combining inline blood‑gas analysis with protocol‑driven antibiotic administration to curb mortality.

• Pediatric Emergency Care
  He manages pediatric trauma, respiratory distress, and toxin exposures, integrating family‑centred resuscitation techniques for children.

Additional Information

Dr Slabbert practices in an advanced Emergency Centre equipped with digital monitoring systems, bedside point‑of‑care labs, and a dedicated trauma bay. Furthermore, he collaborates closely with surgical, cardiology, and intensive care teams to ensure seamless handovers and coordinated treatment plans.

Moreover, he mentors emergency medicine registrars through regular simulation‑based training, emphasizing teamwork, leadership, and human factors under pressure. Consequently, this culture of continuous learning drives ongoing improvements in patient safety and care quality.

Additionally, Dr Slabbert contributes to Mediclinic’s gender‑based violence care model, offering both medical and psychosocial support for survivors. He also organizes community first‑aid and CPR training courses in local schools, thereby empowering lay responders with critical life‑saving skills.

Importantly, he leads monthly morbidity and mortality reviews, focusing on system enhancements and error reduction. As a result, his department consistently improves door‑to‑needle times for stroke and myocardial infarction patients.

If you require expert, rapid‑response emergency care, visit the Emergency Centre at Mediclinic Stellenbosch to experience comprehensive, technology‑driven treatment and compassionate support from Dr Jaco Slabbert.