1 Knowledge desired by ems managers of their ambulance clinicians

Abstract

Aim

Emergency medical service (EMS) managers are responsible for organisational tasking. In this they are dependent on the knowledge possessed by their ambulance clinicians (ACs). Knowledge in EMS may be described as embracing formal education, protocol dependent and containing tacit experienced-based dimensions. However little is known about EMS managers’ approach to this knowledge. The aim of the study was therefore to identify the types of knowledge that Swedish EMS managers considered desirable in their ACs.

Methods

Thirty-six EMS managers participated in a modified Delphi study. Twenty-six sub-categories emerged in the first open-ended questionnaire. Following the EMS managers were encouraged to rate each sub-category, and the ten with the highest mean were interdependently ranked in the final round.

Results

The sub-categories covered knowledge related to; contextual aspects, medical and holistic assessments, formal education and organisational issues. Eventually, the sub-category ‘Knowledge to assess the patient’s situation from a holistic perspective’ was the highest ranked, followed by ‘Medical knowledge to assess and care for different diseases’ and ‘Knowledge to be able to care for critically ill patients’.

Conclusion

The EMS organisations’ primary focus is on providing emergency medical care and treatment. Hence, the present result may have impact on this in order to cover more complex types of knowledge, addressing essentially medical care, contextual aspects and nursing. The boundaries between these may sometimes be elusive, challenging the ACs to balance these areas of knowledge in a complex context.

Conflict of interest

We declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study was funded by R and D Centre, Sörmlands County Council.