Opportunities and challenges for multi-professional units in rural areas
| Autor: | Minna Joensuu, Teija Norri-Sederholm, Johanna Lammintakanen |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Service (business)
business.industry media_common.quotation_subject 030208 emergency & critical care medicine Management Science and Operations Research Public relations Focus group 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Originality Content analysis Health care Emergency medical services 030212 general & internal medicine Rural area business Safety Research Strengths and weaknesses media_common |
| Zdroj: | International Journal of Emergency Services. 8:163-174 |
| ISSN: | 2047-0894 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/ijes-02-2018-0017 |
| Popis: | Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate opportunities and challenges for multi-professional paramedic-firefighter units in small municipalities in Finland. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected by means of four focus group interviews conducted with managers (N =12) and a questionnaire comprising open-ended questions for the personnel working in the units (n =73). Data from both sources were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Findings The empirical results suggest that the use of multi-professional units (MPUs) may be one means of providing a better standard of service in rural areas. However, the working practices and different professional backgrounds in MPUs are considered challenging by the personnel. Managers had a broader perspective; during the interviews they raised matters such as citizen characteristics, legal issues like varying working hours, and economic aspects. Both the personnel and the managers agreed on the strengths and weaknesses of the MPU model in principle. Practical implications The results of this study may clarify the opportunities and challenges posed by MPUs in rural areas from the perspectives of personnel and managers. Originality/value The study provides novel information on MPUs comprising paramedics and firefighters, who function at the interface of emergency medical services and rescue services and who have new tasks in rural areas, including home healthcare support and accident prevention. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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