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Mazzochi K, Aldridge E, Hackett L, Miller J, Leach D, Lukins J, Jordan P, Buntine P. Medical student deployment to a single metropolitan hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods analysis. Emerg Med Australas 2023; 35:960-967. [PMID: 37433573 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore student and staff satisfaction with the use of medical students as a surge workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD We conducted a mixed methods analysis of staff and student experiences with the medical student workforce at a single metropolitan ED over an 8-month period between December 2021 and July 2022, using an online survey tool. Students were invited to complete the survey fortnightly, whereas senior medical and nursing staff were invited weekly. RESULTS There was a 32% response rate for surveys sent to medical student assistants (MSAs) and 18% and 15% for medical and nursing staff, respectively. Most students felt well prepared and supported in the role and would recommend it to other students. They reported that the role allowed them to gain experience and confidence within the ED, especially after much of their learning had moved online throughout the pandemic. Senior nurses and doctors found MSAs to be useful members of the team, largely through their assistance with task completion. Both staff and students recommended a more comprehensive orientation, changes to the supervision model and increased clarity in the students' scope of practice. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study provide insight into the use of medical students as an emergency surge workforce. Responses from medical students and staff suggested that the project was beneficial for both groups as well as for overall departmental performance. These findings are likely to be translatable beyond the COVID-19 pandemic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Mazzochi
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emogene Aldridge
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Liam Hackett
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joseph Miller
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deborah Leach
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane Lukins
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Jordan
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Buntine
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Eastern Health Emergency Medicine Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Bennett R, Mehmed N, Williams B. Non-technical skills in paramedicine: A scoping review. Nurs Health Sci 2020; 23:40-52. [PMID: 32734658 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This scoping review aims to identify which non-technical skills have been empirically identified in the literature, to create the first list of empirically identified non-technical skills for paramedics and allied health personnel. A five-stage scoping literature was undertaken in March 2020. The search retrieved a total of 4756 citations. A total of 93 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for data charting. A total of 26 non-technical skills were identified in the literature. The top five non-technical skills included decision-making (33%, n = 31), communication (24%, n = 23), empathy (17%, n = 16), leadership (12%, n = 12), and ethics (10%, n = 10). Furthermore, only five studies investigated the assessment or measurement of non-technical skills. This scoping review identified 26 non-technical skills that had been investigated in the paramedic literature to create the first list of empirically based desirable non-technical skills for a paramedic. Subsequently, research can then begin to focus on identifying the link that these have to paramedic practice and patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Bennett
- Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Niall Mehmed
- Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brett Williams
- Department of Paramedicine, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
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Walker K, Stephenson M, Dunlop WA, Cheong EM, Ben-Meir M. Australian private emergency departments can assist ambulance services by taking public emergency patients during surge and disasters. Emerg Med Australas 2019; 31:886-888. [PMID: 31155845 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.13328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe a novel ambulance diversion programme, piloted in Victoria. This article discusses creating increased emergency capacity during surge or disasters by utilising private EDs, tested during a recent thunderstorm asthma disaster and an influenza epidemic. Public hospitals and EDs often run at or over capacity during normal operations. This leaves limited ability to manage surges in demand, resulting in suboptimal outcomes for patients, public ED staff and ambulance services. It is feasible to create surge capacity in private EDs for public ambulance patients. Other states could consider this option to help manage health disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Walker
- Emergency Department, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Stephenson
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - William A Dunlop
- Emergency Department, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Medical School, Australia National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Edward M Cheong
- Emergency Department, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Ben-Meir
- Emergency Department, Cabrini Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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