Kontakt 2024, 26(4):392-398 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2024.055

Volunteering in hospitals to deal with emergenciesSocial Sciences in Health - Original article

Marie Klečková1, Lenka Michalcová2, *, Zuzana Freitinger-Skalická2
1 Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Kladno, Czech Republic
2 University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Introduction: Volunteer activities during emergencies occur both formally and informally. In developed countries, emergencies are managed by professionals and formal volunteers. Spontaneous (informal) volunteers often respond at any stage, and this is known as convergent response. While these volunteers help prevent loss of life and property, their lack of organization and emergency knowledge poses risks, such as safety and responsibility issues. This leads professional responders to hesitate in using them. The implementation of effective integration strategies can significantly aid in emergencies.

Objective: This work focuses on volunteering in ensuring hospital crisis preparedness. The aim is to assess volunteering and identify applicable activities during emergencies, especially in hospitals. A methodical procedure for selecting suitable volunteers was developed using multi-criteria evaluation methods.

Methods: A systematic procedure for selecting volunteers was developed based on the implementation of multi-criteria evaluation methods. The implementation of multi-criteria decision-making methods offers an objective selection tool. Sequential steps are directed towards the selection of volunteers who will be competent in performing selected activities of healthcare personnel in hospitals during crisis preparedness. A step-by-step, organized, and targeted process is elaborated in individual, interconnected steps.

Results: The study defines a criteria model for selecting hospital volunteers during emergencies, including Professional Qualification, Length of Practice in Healthcare Fields, Volunteering Costs, and Driver's License Category B.

Keywords: Emergencies; Hospital; MEVYDO; Multi-criteria evaluation of options; TOPSIS; Volunteers
Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: May 16, 2024; Revised: September 9, 2024; Accepted: November 25, 2024; Prepublished online: December 9, 2024; Published: December 17, 2024  Show citation

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Klečková M, Michalcová L, Freitinger-Skalická Z. Volunteering in hospitals to deal with emergencies. Kontakt. 2024;26(4):392-398. doi: 10.32725/kont.2024.055.
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