Introduction
The scope of health care is widening every day. Healthcare tasks range from various categories including those tasks that require professional expertise, and those that practitioners may apply their general knowledge. Therefore, for workers in health care environment, their responsibility is of a diverse course. They act on every situation regardless of their professional line, especially when the need arises. This means that health care practitioners have to bear a diverse knowledge of all departmental functions in order to be effective in the work place. In order to determine the actual experience and first hand information about what it entails to be a health care practitioner, I had the chance to interview Dr. Martins Scott – a family friend and Human resource Director of the Emergence management Department at our area Healthcare facility.
I chose to interview Dr. Martins in specific due to my key interest in acquiring knowledge on how the emergency management department tasks can be. Initially, I had learned about the theoretical information of this department. It entails the preparedness in which practitioners have to focus in order to meet the daily emergencies arising from a spectrum of crises. The main functions include that of dealing with casualties from either man-made or natural disasters. The department is also a key function of mitigation, developing adequate and sustainable plans and response to taking cover and appropriated provide the much-needed assistance.
The interview
The interview was done in face-to-face response where I had a chance to meet Dr. Martins in person. As a human resource manager, I expected much from him. Therefore, my anxiety could not let me waste even a single minute until the interview session was over. My preparation of the interview questions was also adequate. I conducted specific research to formulate the most relevant questions that would dig out deep information about Dr. Martins’ responsibilities and experiences in his position. Also, I presented the questionnaire booklet to Dr. Martins in advance so that I would not get him out of the context during the interview session. Therefore, he had ample time to familiarize with the questions and was fully prepared for the session.
A summary of the questions I managed to formulate were as follows:
How is the everyday experience in the emergence management department – (EMD)?
What is your primary responsibility?
Who are the direct audience/customers of the department?
What has been your career path to this point?
What are the educational requirements for being a human resource manager at the EMD?
Did your education prepare you adequately for the various facets of your job?
What is the exact educational preparation would you recommend for aspiring practitioners?
What is the situation for people at similar position in other organizations?
What attribute do you credit the most for success at your position?
How do you see this position adapting to changes in health care?
Discussion
With the above questions as a guideline for the interview, the session was a wonderful experience for me. Dr. Martins explained clearly about the overall obligations that dictate his position as a human resource director at the emergency management department. Responding to the question on everyday experiences, Dr. Martins explained that it is somehow challenging but his expertise and experience makes all the difference. Attending to emergencies requires a ready person because the time of emergency is not known. One has to be always prepared . Dr. Martins also explained about his primary responsibility at the department. He mentioned on the various tasks that included planning and empowering the staff to be ready to handle the job designation at any given time. Motivation plays a greater role in facilitating Dr. Martins’ success in his obligation.
According to Dr. Martins, the customers or direct audience of the emergency management department are all members of the society. There are no specific individuals who are exposed to disaster or accidents. Therefore, the department attends to all people regardless of their background when the need arises. However, Dr. Martins noted that people below with economic challenges have been tricky since the department has lost a lot of resources dealing with such people. All in all, it has been a pleasure to help such individuals regardless of their financial constraints. Concerning, Dr. Martins’ career path, he explained that it has been a long way. Dr. Martins’ initially worked at various junior positions in different health care facilities. This was the time immediately after his completion of his education, which is the undergraduate degree.
Depending on personal experiences, Dr. Martins noted that the requirements for his job position entirely rely on the commitment rather than the professional expertise. However, one has to acquire the basic educational qualification that is, graduating in any healthcare course and at least make a further step in getting a postgraduate diploma or degree in the health care related field. Taking a professional side way course in communication will facilitate one’s productivity in enabling a committed and motivated staff that meets the expectations and objectives of the department. In all these, Dr. Martins credited to his education apart from the experience. He said that education appropriately prepared him for the facets of his job. Therefore, Dr. Martins would recommend one to pursue a master’s degree to sharpen their talents if they are to achieve their objectives in such positions.
Dr. Martins’ Role in the wider healthcare industry
Apart from the personal achievements, Dr. Martins takes an initiative to impact change to other peoples’ lives. As the profession dictates, Dr. Martins is highly motivated by the prospect that his duties are significant to the lives of human beings. He talked of the prospect of serving the society being an inborn motivation. It takes a lot for one to succeed. Here, practitioners do not thrive if their only motivation is based on remuneration other than saving human life. This is because; sometimes, Dr. Martins goes to work even during the off days – something that many people have failed to do. Dr. Martins also takes the initiative to interact with his environment in the most appropriate manner. Most of the time, He takes that opportunity to educate the society about safe means of living in order to avoid disasters. Dr. Martins talked highly about that initiative and recognized his efforts and passion for saving human life. For people at similar positions, Dr. Martins does not think that they may succeed if they are not well organized to give their services with passion. Passion other than the expertise is the secret behind the success of a human resource director at the emergency management department.
