Health personnel competence requirements in RC/RC joint health emergency response deployment
Aakko, Saara (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052515735
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052515735
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study was to contribute to harmonizing processes for recruiting, screening, and ensuring staff readiness for deployment in joint deployments conducted by Red Cross Red Crescent Emergency Response Unit (ERU) National Societies (NSs). The study was done in cooperation with the Finnish Red Cross (FRC) international aid department. The study aims to identify competence requirements for nurses and doctors in five Red Cross Red Crescent Emergency Hospital (RCEH) holding NSs, explore gaps and opportunities in joint deployments, and assess alignment with Emergency Medical Team (EMT) standards. As an outcome, study offers recommendations to support the development of joint ERU deployments aligned with EMT standards.
The framework of this study was built by providing background information on emergency medical response in disasters, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) EMT initiative, quality care in EMTs, emergency health work within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a concise overview of competencies required in disaster situations, emphasizing nursing competencies. The WHO EMT initiative facilitates the deployment of teams that meet quality standards and are equipped to deliver high-quality health services. The FRC and other NSs align and register their ERUs through the WHO EMT global classification system. Joint health emergency deployments, commonly used in disaster response, combine resources and expertise from multiple NSs reserves to enhance operational effectiveness.
This thesis was a research-based development project utilizing action research approach. Data were collected via an online survey tool from eight participants from five RCEHs holding NSs during October and November 2024. Purposeful sampling was used to select participants based on their expertise. The results were validated and supplemented in two group discussions with the same participants in December 2024. The findings were quantified to support comparison between the NSs in relation to the research questions, and data analysis was partly conducted using content analysis.
This study provides a review to support joint deployments, highlighting their effectiveness in meeting EMT standards. It found that processes exist for verifying and maintaining healthcare personnel's competence. While requirements for joining the reserve and screening delegates are consistent across NSs, differences exist in verifying references, licenses, and current skills, usually due to country-specific regulations. Joint RCEH deployments use personnel from multiple NSs to ensure adequate staffing and expertise. NSs’ training programs build on previous learning and enhance skills.
To ensure consistent standards, it is recommended to regularize training frequencies and formats and adopt a set of common methods for verifying clinical skills. Enhancing collaboration between NSs will strengthen joint deployments and further improve their effectiveness in meeting EMT standards, while ERUs remain an independent IFRC tool.
Keywords: EMT, ERU, competence requirement, joint deployment, medical doctor, nurse
The framework of this study was built by providing background information on emergency medical response in disasters, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) EMT initiative, quality care in EMTs, emergency health work within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and a concise overview of competencies required in disaster situations, emphasizing nursing competencies. The WHO EMT initiative facilitates the deployment of teams that meet quality standards and are equipped to deliver high-quality health services. The FRC and other NSs align and register their ERUs through the WHO EMT global classification system. Joint health emergency deployments, commonly used in disaster response, combine resources and expertise from multiple NSs reserves to enhance operational effectiveness.
This thesis was a research-based development project utilizing action research approach. Data were collected via an online survey tool from eight participants from five RCEHs holding NSs during October and November 2024. Purposeful sampling was used to select participants based on their expertise. The results were validated and supplemented in two group discussions with the same participants in December 2024. The findings were quantified to support comparison between the NSs in relation to the research questions, and data analysis was partly conducted using content analysis.
This study provides a review to support joint deployments, highlighting their effectiveness in meeting EMT standards. It found that processes exist for verifying and maintaining healthcare personnel's competence. While requirements for joining the reserve and screening delegates are consistent across NSs, differences exist in verifying references, licenses, and current skills, usually due to country-specific regulations. Joint RCEH deployments use personnel from multiple NSs to ensure adequate staffing and expertise. NSs’ training programs build on previous learning and enhance skills.
To ensure consistent standards, it is recommended to regularize training frequencies and formats and adopt a set of common methods for verifying clinical skills. Enhancing collaboration between NSs will strengthen joint deployments and further improve their effectiveness in meeting EMT standards, while ERUs remain an independent IFRC tool.
Keywords: EMT, ERU, competence requirement, joint deployment, medical doctor, nurse