Position-based Handover notes as a tool to enhance better and continued management in Emergency Response Units
Arvo, Johanna (2018)
Arvo, Johanna
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018121922467
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2018121922467
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study was to to identify possible gaps and needs in the current position-based handover process and to provide suggestions how the handover process in Finnish Red Cross Emergency Response Unit setting can be improved. The study was done in cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross international aid department and with the Finnish Red Cross international delegate reserve. The study aims at finding tools to ensure the quality of the operation and providing tools for Emergency Team Leaders to continue the operation proficiently and effectively from one person to another.
The framework of this study was built by providing background information of humanitarian response and quality, including the leadership and management in humanitarian operations and Red Cross reporting structure. The Core Humanitarian Standard on quality and account-ability that has set out nine commitments were used to connect the Red Cross into a bigger humanitarian context, where these commitments are meant for any organizations and/or individuals that are involved in any kind of humanitarian response, to enhance the effectiveness and most importantly the quality of the assistance they provide through their programs.
The thesis was implemented as a qualitative study and was conducted during Autumn 2018. The research method used was semi-structured interviews, with 7 delegates from the Red Cross international delegate reserve (4 health care professionals and 3 logisticians). The interviews were done to find out how to improve the information sharing system and to enhance the continuity of the work in between different rotations. The data from the interviews was analyzed by using content analysis.
The results indicated that there is a need to develop a structured template to support the position-based handover process and to enhance the information flow between the different rotations. Even though the delegates have been providing handover notes to each other earlier, many delegates found it difficult to elaborate a well-structured report or handover note while there is a lot of pressure to perform the assigned tasks while on mission. According to the analysis, four (4) combining categories emerged from the interviews: Quality of the received handover, needs for improvement in position-based handover, Minimum standards for Handover and handover notes and Ensuring an effective and efficient handover process were highlighted in the interviews.
As a result of the thesis, the recommendation was that by developing a structured template to use for position-based handovers, as it would hopefully enhance the quality and quantity of the written handover notes. With the structured handover note template, the Finnish Red Cross ERU teams would be able to get more detailed information from the different technical sectors in the field that could be used primarily to support the team management (team leader, head nurse, senior medical officer) on their decision making and reporting.
The framework of this study was built by providing background information of humanitarian response and quality, including the leadership and management in humanitarian operations and Red Cross reporting structure. The Core Humanitarian Standard on quality and account-ability that has set out nine commitments were used to connect the Red Cross into a bigger humanitarian context, where these commitments are meant for any organizations and/or individuals that are involved in any kind of humanitarian response, to enhance the effectiveness and most importantly the quality of the assistance they provide through their programs.
The thesis was implemented as a qualitative study and was conducted during Autumn 2018. The research method used was semi-structured interviews, with 7 delegates from the Red Cross international delegate reserve (4 health care professionals and 3 logisticians). The interviews were done to find out how to improve the information sharing system and to enhance the continuity of the work in between different rotations. The data from the interviews was analyzed by using content analysis.
The results indicated that there is a need to develop a structured template to support the position-based handover process and to enhance the information flow between the different rotations. Even though the delegates have been providing handover notes to each other earlier, many delegates found it difficult to elaborate a well-structured report or handover note while there is a lot of pressure to perform the assigned tasks while on mission. According to the analysis, four (4) combining categories emerged from the interviews: Quality of the received handover, needs for improvement in position-based handover, Minimum standards for Handover and handover notes and Ensuring an effective and efficient handover process were highlighted in the interviews.
As a result of the thesis, the recommendation was that by developing a structured template to use for position-based handovers, as it would hopefully enhance the quality and quantity of the written handover notes. With the structured handover note template, the Finnish Red Cross ERU teams would be able to get more detailed information from the different technical sectors in the field that could be used primarily to support the team management (team leader, head nurse, senior medical officer) on their decision making and reporting.