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A Paramedic Field Supervisor's Situational Awareness in Prehospital Emergency Care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2014

Teija Norri-Sederholm ,
Rauno Kuusisto ,
Jouni Kurola ,
Kaija Saranto  and
Heikki Paakkonen
Teija Norri-Sederholm*
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Rauno Kuusisto
Affiliation:
Technical Research Center, Finnish Defense Forces, Riihimäki, Finland
Jouni Kurola
Affiliation:
Centre for Prehospital Emergency Care. Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
Kaija Saranto
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Heikki Paakkonen
Affiliation:
Centre for Prehospital Emergency Care. Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
*
Correspondence: Teija Norri-Sederholm, RN, MS Pikonniemenkatu 6 70800 Kuopio, Finland E-mail [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction

Situational awareness (SA), or being aware of what is going on and what might happen next, is essential for the successful management of prehospital emergency care. However, far too little attention has been paid to the flow of information. Having the right information is important when formulating plans and actions.

Problem

The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the type of information that is meaningful for SA in the work of paramedic field supervisors, and to create an information profile for them in the context of prehospital emergency care.

Methods

Data were collected from January through March 2012 from semi-structured interviews with ten paramedic field supervisors representing four rescue departments in Finland. The interviews were based on three different types of real-life scenarios in the context of prehospital emergency care, and deductive content analysis was employed according to the information exchange meta-model. Data management and analysis were performed using Atlas.ti 7.

Results

A paramedic field supervisor information interest profile was formulated. The most important information categories were Events, Means, Action Patterns, and Decisions. The profile showed that paramedic field supervisors had four roles – situation follower, analyzer, planner and decision maker – and they acted in all four roles at the same time in the planning and execution phases.

Conclusion

Paramedic field supervisors are multitasking persons, building SA by using the available data, combining it with extensive know-how from their working methods and competencies, and their tacit knowledge. The results can be used in developing work processes, training programs, and information systems.

Norri-SederholmT, KuusistoR, KurolaJ, SarantoK, PaakkonenH. A Paramedic Field Supervisor's Situational Awareness in Prehospital Emergency Care. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(2):1-9.

Keywords

informationparamedic field supervisorprehospital emergency caresituational awareness
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 151 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

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