Abstract
Due to the fact that the trend of the growth of emergency situations, the issue of enhancement of the preparation for the prevention and elimination of emergency situations remains. It is also very important to point out the fact this issue is undoubtedly relevant nowadays. The study reveals the shortage of Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi and the need to improve the emergency preparedness by means of manpower, staff training, and innovative equipment. The research results suggest some appropriate solutions of the problem including the system of employees training and changes in the organizational structure of the regulator.
Investigation and Problem
Emergency situations are getting more and more widespread in today’s society. The fact that one of the characteristic features of our time is the frequent occurrence of emergencies cannot be contested. In connection with this, the interest to the study of emergencies in the modern world is steadily growing. The research is related to previous researches done in the area under study that arise the question of the emergency staff preparation.
In particular, one might note “Emergency medicine in the United Arab Emirates” by Fares et al., 2014, or “Emergency medicine in Dubai, UAE” by Partridge Abbo, and Virk, 2009. In addition, as a result of recent events at Yaman, UAE needs to be prepared for emergency cases, and the Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities’ mission is to provide the appropriate preparedness.
Statement of the Problem
Nowadays, one might note the shortage of professional doctors, the latest medical equipment, and innovative operational centres. In this regard, it seems necessary to address a problem of lack of the Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) Capabilities and the necessity to improve the preparedness of emergency by means of enhancing manpower, equipment, and training.
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to express the relevance of the chosen theme demonstrating some current data and suggesting a set of suitable measures that might be taken into account in order to improve the situation. In other words, the paper is aimed at in-depth analysis of the current state of Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority and revealing adequate measures that would enhance the preparedness of emergencies from the medical perspective.
I believe that the above purpose would improve the current situation as prepared professionals orientate in the specific emergency situation better, they estimate it more accurately anticipating its development. In its turn, it makes the emergence of difficulties apparent and helps to exclude plenty of unexpected circumstances. Prepared doctors are less nervous, worried, operates quietly, allow fewer mistakes, and they do not create additional difficulties.
Arrangement and Approach of Study
The conducted investigation consists of five phases each of each is thoroughly considered and possesses a special role. First of all, I would like to present the proposal of the research including the target audience, methodology, and other aspects that would express the topicality of the problem. Second, I would consider the HR related organizational analysis based on credible sources indicating key points of the theme. Finally, I would provide the reader with the thought-out discussion of the research findings along with limited and justifiable concluding remarks. The research paper was chosen as the investigation format. In addition, the research is initiated in the framework of Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities.
Project Proposal and Planning
Target Audience
Speaking of the target audience, it is important to emphasize that the research results might be interesting and helpful for a range of readers from an average reader to scientist with a degree. However, the general purpose of the paper is to provide the useful and comprehensible information for Health Authority Abu Dhabi authorities. Additionally, the research might be used for perspective investigations.
Methodology of Research
The literature overview was chosen as a methodology of the research as it is an indispensable part of the investigation. It is significant for determining the main areas of the research as well as for the implementation of the research process. The literature review would describe what has been done within the subject before, in particular, concepts, approaches of different authors, the current state of the problem, and a range of unsolved problems in the chosen field. Therefore, the literature review is chosen to designate the selected issue. Besides, it contributes to the explanation of the necessity of the study.
Corporate Description
The Organization’s Activities
The organization under analysis is the Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities. Its activity includes emergency patient’s treatment, transfer to the morgue section if required, and other operations.
Strategic Management
According to the Health Authority Abu Dhabi, its mission vision consists in healthier population procuring better access to health care services and constantly improving services quality (HAAD, n.d.a). What is more, its strategic objectives suppose the workforce attraction and training, emergency preparedness, wellness along with disease prevention, and other objectives. As for the business strategy, it is expressed improving medical outcomes and public health. The functional strategy comprises inspect and control for quality, filling critical gaps in capacity and insurance coverage, and being prepared for emergencies. HAAD’s top management role is to ensure the quality and preparedness of the provided services.
Current Projects Undertaking
Presently, the Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities has two sections, which are the operation section and mortuary section.
Research Result and Data Analysis (HR related Organizational Analysis)
The following part of the paper examines HR related organizational analysis based on the literature overview. In their, “Emergency medicine in the United Arab Emirates” article, authors point out the main features of emergency medicine in the UAE as well as the challenges it has to face. For instance, they claim that there is the lack of training of the staff. The majority of states of the United Arab Emirates use the following classification of employee: education, training, and experience.
At the same time, the “HAAD classifies ambulances into those providing basic life support (BLS / Type 2) or advanced life support (ALS / Type 3)” (Fares et al., 2014a, p. 3). Thus, one might note the shortage of the professional training. The knowledge gained by staff in institutions is rapidly becoming obsolete increasing their need for a substantial renovation. Therefore, today, for the successful work, specialists should be aware well enough to understand the special and the common areas. Unfortunately, “even within the medical community, many doctors do not understand the importance of emergency medicine and giving this branch more recognition is an important step forward” (Bell & Rizvi, 2014b, para. 2).
The lack of the required skills leads not only to the inefficient operation but also to the reduction of the job satisfaction. “The shortage of emergency medicine-trained, board-certified consultants in the UAE has a negative impact on the quality of emergency medicine training. They have little to no available time for teaching and research” (Fares et al., 2014a, p. 6). Consequently, the systematic training of employees could reveal their full capabilities. Training is designed to prepare staff to the correct solution of a wide range of tasks and provide a high level of work efficiency. In addition, organizational changes become difficult to implement without timely training.
In order to achieve its organizational strategies, HAAD’s HR management periodically revises rating criteria in appraisal forms and processes. Moreover, the organization offers special training programs aimed at emotional integrity and enhancement of communicative skills of employees. As a result, it improves relationships between colleagues and patients. Besides, HAAD exerts every effort to remain attractive on labour market including the competitive salary, appropriate working environment, and remunerations.
Taking into account the above, it is possible to examine the effectiveness of techniques of performance appraisal. Accomplishing organizational objectives is ensured by means of encouragement strategy. Corporate HR management provides expertise, creates programs and practices, and manages timely and effectively. Moreover, the organization focuses on constant improvement of working conditions. It motivates employees to work harder and achieve high results.
Among challenges faced by the emergency medicine, there are working conditions of the personnel. Emergency staff provides emergency medical assistance to patients in different conditions. Nevertheless, advances in the development of medical equipment and means of communication have expanded the capabilities of these workers in the resuscitation and stabilization way in the emergency department (Trivedy, Hall, & Parfitt, 2010).
Increased opportunities of ambulance workers do not completely meet current requirements as they are now faced with increased risks in the performance of their duties. In particular, challenges facing them should be overcome quickly and often in poorly equipped facilities with limited access to the patient. The working environment might suddenly and uncontrollably become threatening in the biological, physical, and chemical aspects.
The dynamic and rapidly changing situation increase the risk of the medical staff. It is important to take into account health risks of medical rescue services personnel in the development of strategies to reduce this risk and prevent injuries during operations. The work of ambulance workers occurring in the uncontrolled and unequipped environment as well as responsibility for making major decisions with inadequate equipment and limited time often leads to occupational stress.
Errors and malfunctions, job dissatisfaction, and loss of the sense of patient care that might arise as a result of occupational stress, are a danger both for workers and for society to some extent. In order to mitigate the devastating effects of the nervous system associated with emergency cases, some techniques for stress relief should be applied.
It is also very important to stress the fact that authors argue the emergency equipment. Precisely speaking, there is a need to have the latest equipment in terms of communication between stakeholders. While the current one is TETRA, there is a necessity to have more innovative equipment that would help to trace the bed equipment in the regulator, etc. Moreover, the regulator organization plays a significant part in the emergency medicine effectiveness.
According to Fares et al. (2014b), it should be centralized. The centralized system of the regulator organization means the majority of departments integrated together in one body, but located, usually, on different floors or parts of the building. As a rule, in this type of organization, there is a single building rendered for technical facilities, catering department, outpatient, and autopsy department.
In its turn, new equipment would increase the speed of processing the material and expand the range of the researches. For example, automated analyzers ensure more accurate results excluding the human factor. It means that the analysis would be received in the regulator lab, and after conducting research within few days automatically head back. Such a system would not only increase the speed and improve the quality of the research, but also eliminate the need for paperwork and errors. What is more, such an organization would provide free communication between staff and patients’ transportation to the required location.
Discussion and Research Analysis
Research Findings
It goes without saying that there is a need to prepare for action in emergencies as it is the potential danger that might occur anytime. However, the nature of the emergency is that the awareness of this need comes already after the emergency actually happened. Usually, the need to prepare for is not regarded as urgent before the accident. The lack of Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities leads to accidents and emergencies.
However, it is especially significant to emphasize that in a case like this one, the awareness of the need of the preparedness to emergencies and invest in their creation gives organizations the knowledge, experience, and resources enabling safe operation and performance requirements of morality and law and increasing the likelihood that doctors would cope with emergency situations in a timely manner. In addition, the total loss increases due to the lack of efficiency of methods to limit and eliminate emergencies.
For the organization of an effective system ensuring the preparedness for emergencies, it is necessary to realize its importance, consider the project, and support its creation. Consequently, the following purposes should be achieved:
- Awareness of the need to provide appropriate measures, planning, and support;
- Definition of long-term goals and objectives;
- Ensuring financial support to purchase the necessary medical equipment;
- Adequate staff training;
- Provision of the necessary organizational resources.
Based on the initiated research, a system of measures could improve the preparedness in emergencies. The proposed system that allows achieving the state of emergency preparedness focuses on an integrated approach to the prevention of such situations and the ability to cope with them in the case they appear. The system includes the following aspects:
- Organizational objectives and their implementation (a priority role and the need to prepare for action in an emergency);
- Risk management (identification, assessment, and mitigation of the potential dangers and risks);
- Definition of measures to cope with the unexpected situation or accident;
- Provide the necessary space, equipment, and materials;
- Training methods of detection, control, and warning about the accident;
- Evaluation and improvement of the entire system through regular inspections and tests;
- Periodic re-evaluation of risk factors and testing the effectiveness of the system (HAAD, n.d.b).
As a matter of fact, another important issue that should be taken into account is the assessment of risk factors. Analysis of risk factors allows identifying factors that are typical for a particular emergency. On this basis, the risk factors assessed in comparison with known criteria determine the degree of acceptable risk. In the case the risk is high, it is necessary to determine measures to be done to reduce it (for instance, to reduce the likelihood of an emergency, to decrease its effects, to eliminate all or, at least, part of factors).
As a result, the plan to reduce the identified risk factors should be developed and implemented. Similarly, on the same basis, the action plan in case of emergency should allow taking the most effective measures in the case of its occurrence. Identification and analysis of risk factors predict the perspective scenario of this or that situation development with high accuracy. Therefore, it would be possible to determine suitable actions necessary in each case.
Finally, the research explores the centralized organization of the regulator emphasizing that it is the best way of the regulator body organization. It guarantees effective communication and medical processes. Personally, I agree with the research analysis. Indeed, it would be better if all the departments would be united in the one body. In my point of view, it would eliminate the lack of the Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi.
Contribution of this Project
The research presents a systematic description of what actually is happening to emergency medicine department and staff. In my opinion, the research has made a significant contribution to the study of emergency situations in the HAAD regulator. The study reveals the lack of effectiveness of employees work in the Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi and proposes measures for the improvement of the situation.
Limitations
I consider that there are some factors that might impinge upon student’s research. For instance, the obsolescence of the information chosen for the analysis or some current events. However, I find that thee was no external factors that influenced my research.
Recommendations for Further Development within the Organization
Thus, the study could be utilized in further investigations. For example, it gives the perspective of the research in other medical institutions of the United Arab Emirates or in any other narrower specialty related to emergencies.
Conclusion and Lessons Learned
In conclusion, it should be stressed that the aim of this paper was to evaluate the lack of Emergency and Disaster Department at Health Authority Abu Dhabi Capabilities and to identify the areas of emergency preparedness requiring improvement. During the study, it was stated that there are some weak points need to be improved. Among them, one might mention the shortage of professional doctors, obsolete equipment, and inappropriate regulator organization. Consequently, the following measures should be taken correspondingly: adequate staff training, innovative equipment installation, and structural reorganization of the regulator.
Emergency situations are often viewed as unforeseen ones. However, in the modern era of advanced technology and communication systems, few events could be called really unexpected and very few of the accident unprecedented. Newspapers, hazard warning, accident statistics, technical reports – all that reliable data gives images of what could be waiting for. Nevertheless, methods for preventing and eliminating emergencies based only on past experience does not always guarantee the same level of their solution.
A good reinforcement of the regulator is personnel training concerning some risk factors and necessary actions. Deficiencies in staff training often determine the difference between the emergency patients’ recovery and causalties. Therefore, the staff training is the mechanism that determines the effectiveness of the HAAD regulator work and developed activities resulting in the healthier population. The emergency preparedness is ensured by the integration of all the necessary elements including the proper staff training, the high-quality special equipment, and regular examinations of the efficiency of undertaken actions.
Speaking of the procedural design flaws, the thing worth turning one’s attention to is the shortage of illustrative material such as tables, diagrams, drawings, statistic material. Perhaps, it would be better if the study included some proved data or statistics organized in tables. However, I find that it is a strong point of the research that I referred to several reliable sources. Thus, the analysis of the can be proved. It could not be easily argued and denied, as there is evidence of it being taken from credible sources. As a result, the information presented in the research appears to be accurate and trustworthy.
Consequently, one may conclude that the goal stated in the research proposal was achieved because the useful and comprehensible information was provided.
References
Bell, J., & Rizvi, A. (2014). “Lack of specialists is great challenge to emergency medicine, say UAE doctors”. The National. Web.
Fares, S., Femino, M., Sayah, A., Weiner, D. L., Yim, E. S., Douthwright, S.,… Ciottone, G. (2014b). Health care system hazard vulnerability analysis: An assessment of all public hospitals in Abu Dhabi. Disasters, 38(2), 420-433.
Fares, S., Irfan, F. B., Corder, R. F., Abdulla Al Marzouqi, M., Hasan Al Zaabi, A., Idrees, M., & Abbo, M. (2014a). “Emergency medicine in the United Arab Emirates”. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 7(4), 1-8.
HAAD. (n.d.a) About HAAD. Web.
HAAD. (n.d.b) Abu Dhabi Healthcare Strategic Plan. Web.
Trivedy, C., Hall., & Parfitt, A. (2010). Mastering Emergency Medicine: A Practical Guide. London: Hodder Arnold.