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Background Despite the proven value of multicriteria decision analysis in the health field, there is a lack of studies focused on prioritising victims in the Emergency Medical Service, EMS. With this, and knowing that the decision maker needs a direction on which choice may be the most appropriate, based on different and often conflicting criteria. The current work developed a new model for prioritizing victims of SAMU/192, based on the multicriteria decision methodology, taking into account the scarcity of resources. Methods An expert panel and a discussion group were formed, which defined the limits of the problem, and identified the evaluation criteria for choosing a victim, amongst four alternatives illustrated from hypothetical scenarios of emergency situations—clinical and traumatic diseases of absolute priority. For prioritization, an additive mathematical method was used that aggregates criteria in a flexible and interactive version, FITradeoff. Results The structuring of the problem led the researchers to identify twenty-five evaluation criteria, amongst which ten were essential to guide decisions. As a result, in the simulation of prioritization of four requesting victims in view of the availability of only one ambulance, the proposed model supported the decision by suggesting the prioritization of one of the victims. Conclusions This work contributed to the prioritization of victims using multicriteria decision support methodology. Selecting and weighing the criteria in this study indicated that the protocols that guide regulatory physicians do not consider all the criteria for prioritizing victims in an environment of scarcity of resources. Finally, the proposed model can support crucial decision based on a rational and transparent decision-making process that can be applied in other EMS.

Purpose The hospital is an organization that has its own characteristics that differentiate it from other institutions. It is characterized as a company providing services of social purpose, with a great operational complexity, due to the diversity of services provided. These organizations are dependent on technology to play the role of assisting society. Technology is onerous: it is up to the aforementioned institutions to adopt management tools to control these costs. The present study explains the process of implementing a shared service centre (CENTROMED) for the management of hospital medical equipment (HME) at the Hospital Universitario Onofre Lopes (HUOL) in the city of Natal, RN. Patients and methods In order to achieve a successful implementation, four key steps were taken: process modelling; determination of key performance indicators, organization of physical arrangement; and adequate training and development of human resources. The work followed an action research approach focusing on three main methodological steps: identification of HUOL clinical engineering team's demands, definition of the process for providing the equipment service, and definition of the supply items that will be managed. Results The preliminary results of this research indicate that the centralization of the management of the HME contributed to the optimization of the processes, the reduction of the costs and the availability of the equipment, thus providing a powerful management tool to support the hospital operational management. Conclusion The utilization of the shared service center for the management of hospital medical equipment is ultimately linked to the patient's well-being as it contributes to the agility in hospital procedures and provides support in maintaining the capacity of attendance of the assistance teams.

BACKGROUND: Telework has been widely studied by public and private organizations; however, in ergonomics, studies that focused on this topic are still sporadic. OBJECTIVE: Thus, this article endeavours to systematize the qualified scientific research related to ergonomics and teleworking to determine the main benefits and disadvantages and to identify the main issues addressed by authors. METHODS: A thorough research was conducted in the Scopus/Embase and Web of Science databases for this review. The following descriptors were used for the cataloguing of articles: “teleworking”, “telecommuting”, “telecommuters”, “home office”, “ergonomics” and “human factors”. 36 studies were selected. RESULTS: The study highlights four relevant questions in the scientific literature: a) where is the discussion of these themes consolidated; b) what are the main descriptors related to the discussion; c) which journals and conferences establish a scientific debate on the topic; and d) what are its main advantages and disadvantages. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that telecommuting can be a valuable tool for balancing professional and family life, which helps to improve the well-being of workers; however, several factors can influence the overall remote working experience which leads to the need for companies to adopt unique strategies reflecting their unique situation.

The use of mobile phones has dramatically increased all over the world. Such revolution in the communication amongst individuals has a great impact in patient care, supporting their self-management and promoting shared responsibility with health services. Given that improved communication facilitates compliance with scheduled procedures and reduces surgical cancellations, the current work aims to develop a communication tool named Surgery Remember@ to mitigate surgical suspensions due to patient absenteeism. The present article is a study of technological production divided into four chapters: literature review; analysis of the hospital administrative profile; software development; and process mapping for software implementation. Taking into account that in the last three years the problem of absenteeism was the main cause of institutional surgical cancellations; the development of Surgery Remember@ endeavours to reduce surgery cancellations, improving efficiency and reducing costs. It is known that sending messages three days before the surgical procedure makes it possible to replace patients in the event of cancellations, optimizing the human and material resources in the operating room. The confirmation of the pre-aesthetic consultation is also positive, for it allows the verification of perioperative assistance improvement. Hence, besides being viable and easy to implement, the software developed allows the addition of other features based on user requirements, proving to be an asset to reduce surgery cancellations. RESUMO O uso de telefones celulares aumentou dramaticamente em todo o mundo. Essa revolução na comunicação entre os indivíduos tem impacto no cuidado ao paciente, apoiando sua autogestão e promovendo a responsabilidade compartilhada com os serviços de saúde. Tendo em vista que a melhoria da comunicação facilita o cumprimento dos procedimentos programados e reduz os cancelamentos cirúrgicos, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver uma ferramenta de comunicação denominada Surgery Remember@ para mitigar as suspensões cirúrgicas por absenteísmo do paciente. O presente artigo é um estudo da produção tecnológica dividido em quatro capítulos: revisão de literatura; análise do perfil administrativo do hospital; desenvolvimento de software; e mapeamento de processos para implementação de software. Tendo em conta que nos últimos três anos o problema do absenteísmo foi a principal causa de cancelamentos cirúrgicos institucionais o desenvolvimento do Surgery Remember@ se apresenta como esforço para reduzir os cancelamentos de cirurgias, melhorando a eficiência e reduzindo custos. Sabe-se que o envio de mensagens três dias antes do procedimento cirúrgico possibilita a reposição de pacientes em caso de cancelamentos, otimizando os recursos humanos e materiais da sala cirúrgica. A confirmação da consulta pré-anestésica também é positiva, pois permite verificar a melhora da assistência perioperatória. Assim, além de viável e de fácil implementação, o software desenvolvido permite agregar outros recursos de acordo com a necessidade do usuário, mostrando-se uma ferramenta para redução de cancelamentos cirúrgicos.

BackgroundThe growth of the urban population exerts considerable pressure on municipalities’ public managers to focus their attention on providing emergency medical care that meets the growing demand for emergency pre-hospital medical care. Currently, there are a significant number of traffic accidents and other serious occurrences, such as heart attacks, drownings, epidemics, fires and disasters (floods, landslides, earthquakes) that demand a prompt and seamless response from pre-hospital medical care. As a result of such scenario, the present article endeavours to apply a dual-coverage mathematical model (DSM-Double Standard Model) to define the optimal location of the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) decentralized dispatch bases in Natal / RN and conduct a simulation study to evaluate the displacement of ambulances between such bases. Patients and methodsThe methodological course that was followed by this research constitute for 12 steps, so as to the location of decentralized bases for sending emergency ambulances was established using the DSM model and the simulation model was performed using the FlexSim software© version 2018 evaluating base coverage in relation to the total number of calls by demand points for different scenarios.ResultsThe results obtained throughout the research demonstrated the feasibility of redefining the decentralized bases of SAMU / Natal ambulances as a strategy to reduce response time and guarantee compliance with performance parameters established by international organizations (the World Health Organization, for instance, establishes the time of 8 minutes for emergency medical service calls response). The simulation study showed a significant reduction in response time, by up to 60% in some cases.Conclusion The proposition of new locations for the decentralized dispatch bases of the SAMU/Natal can provide an overall significant reduction on the ambulance response time, so as to contributes to expedite the initiation of treatment of patients, if necessary, sent to hospitals.

Background Multiobjective decision-making processes present a high degree of complexity in their solution, and tools such as multicriteria decision analysis appear as a way to facilitate the decision-makers’ solution and ensure that the decision is made cohesively and efficiently. In the public health sector, decisions are even more delicate because they work not only with the direct influence of human needs, but also with limited financial resources. An important point for the emergency care units is the triage system, which consists of a pre-evaluation of the patients, classifying them according to the degree of life risk. Through triage, the patient can be attended more quickly and efficiently, streamlining the whole process. Thus, the present research endeavored to determine the most appropriate triage protocol for emergency healthcare units in Natal-RN city in Brazil and may help others less advanced countries to determine the most appropriate triage protocol for emergency healthcare. Methods In this study, we used the multicriteria analysis method known as FITradeoff. In addition, interviews and structured questionnaires applied with nurses, specialists and directors. Results Based on the questionnaires and preferences presented by the decision-makers, the Spanish Triage System was the most suitable protocol for the emergency care units, which presented with high ease of use and implementation. Conclusions This study reached its main objective, which was to determine the most appropriate triage protocol. In addition, it was observed the possibility of new research, such as the development of a specific protocol for this emergency care units and the creation of an application software for this new protocol.

Atualmente, diversos fatores impulsionam a internacionalização das empresas, porém, esses mesmos fatores são permeados de riscos potenciais como barreiras físicas e culturais, além da severa competição que existe no mercado mundial. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho analisa e descreve como se deu o processo de inserção internacional de uma empresa Potiguar no segmento de castanhas, frutas secas e produtos oleaginosos com dez anos no mercado externo (países do MERCOSUL). O trabalho possui uma abordagem descritiva, de natureza essencialmente qualitativa, seguindo o modelo metodológico de estudo de caso. A coleta de dados se deu através de análise documental e de entrevistas estruturadas e semiestruturadas com o CEO da empresa. Na análise documental, buscou-se levantar as principais teorias sobre internacionalização e comércio exterior, assim como dados relevantes da empresa e seu mercado alvo. Nas entrevistas estruturadas, utilizou-se um questionário com uma escala tipo Likert de modo a quantificar aspectos subjetivos da vivência do empresário, baseando-se nos principais construtos relativos à internacionalização de empresas presentes na literatura especializada. Através da análise dos dados foi possível observar que a empresa é bem estruturada nos elementos estratégicos, táticos e operacionais relativos à exportação apresentando poucas lacunas estruturais ou estratégicas. A empresa possui uma estratégia de internacionalização ativa e gradual, voltada para aproximação com mercados culturalmente próximos e pode servir de modelo para outras empresas do ramo devido à sua maturidade exportadora. Também foi possível apontar elementos pontuais para a melhoria das estratégias de comercialização dos produtos empresa e sua estratégia de transição digital.

O presente trabalho objetiva propor uma releitura da análise SWOT, apresentando um modelo adequado às demandas e transformações das organizações modernas, focando em uma definição mais robusta e específica das categorias da matriz SWOT – forças fraquezas, oportunidades e ameaças. A pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas: i) pesquisa bibliográfica e documental; e ii) pesquisa-ação com observação participante. Durante o período de 2014 a 2016 em uma empresa Britânica no ramo de Business Intelligence, pôde-se avaliar o progresso do uso e da adaptação da análise SWOT às demandas de competitividade. Baseados nas evidências documentais e empíricas, os autores propuseram uma releitura da MATRIZ SWOT em que cada uma das dimensões originais é subdividida em cinco subcategorias, oferecendo assim, uma ferramenta para dar suporte a análises mais detalhadas e robustas. As forças e fraquezas são divididas nas seguintes categorias: i) sintomáticas; ii) adormecidas; iii) constantes; iv) circunstanciais; e iv) tangíveis. As oportunidades são divididas nas seguintes categorias: i) exploradas; ii) passageiras; iii) desperdiçadas; iv) inacessíveis; e v) disfarçadas. Por fim, as ameaças apresentam as seguintes subcategorias: i) constantes; ii) passageiras; iii) adormecidas; iv) provocadas; e v) disfarçadas. Este trabalho contribui com a literatura e a prática da gestão estratégica ao oferecer uma alternativa para endereçar as dificuldades de precisão na definição das categorias da Matriz SWOT, criando subcategorias até então não levantadas na literatura para que se possa mais precisamente abarcar forças e fraquezas e melhor avaliar oportunidades e ameaças, validando assim, a continuidade do uso desta ferramenta.

The advent of the internet has enabled changes in the way people communicate. The current reseach endeavours to analyse the organizational communication process, through social media, at the Academic Department of Philosophy and Human Sciences - DFCH, at the Federal University of Amapá. Methodologically, it is a qualitative, descriptive approach, configured as a case study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, with the participation of 10 administrative technicians. The results reveal that communication in the DFCH occurs through integrated management systems (SIPAC, SIGRH and SIGAA), by email and institutional website and, informally, by WhatsApp. As a result of the research, it was proposed the creation of groups linked to the Dean Special Advisory Board (AER), to improve the communication process. &nbsp, La llegada de internet ha permitido cambios en la forma en que las personas se comunican. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar el proceso de comunicación organizacional, a través de las redes sociales, en el Departamento Académico de Filosofía y Ciencias Humanas - DFCH, en la Universidad Federal de Amapá. Metodológicamente, es un enfoque cualitativo, descriptivo, configurado como un estudio de caso. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, con la participación de 10 técnicos administrativos. Los resultados revelan que la comunicación en el DFCH se produce a través de sistemas de gestión integrados (SIPAC, SIGRH y SIGAA), por correo electrónico y sitio web institucional y, de manera informal, por WhatsApp. Se propone la creación de grupos vinculados a la Asesoría Especial de la Rectoría (AER), para el proceso de comunicación., O advento da internet viabilizou mudanças na forma das pessoas se comunicarem. Objetiva-se, nesta pesquisa, analisar o processo de comunicação organizacional, por meio das mídias sociais no Departamento Acadêmico de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas – DFCH, da Universidade Federal do Amapá. Metodologicamente, trata-se de abordagem qualitativa, descritiva, configurada como estudo de caso. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, com participação de 10 técnicos-administrativos. Os resultados revelam que a comunicação no DFCH ocorre por sistemas integrados de gestão (SIPAC, SIGRH e SIGAA), por e-mail e site institucional e, informalmente, por WhatsApp. Apresenta-se, como proposta, a criação de grupos vinculados à Assessoria Especial da Reitoria (AER), para o processo comunicacional.

O advento da internet viabilizou mudanças na forma das pessoas se comunicarem. Objetiva-se, nesta pesquisa, analisar o processo de comunicação organizacional, por meio das mídias sociais no Departamento Acadêmico de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas – DFCH, da Universidade Federal do Amapá. Metodologicamente, trata-se de abordagem qualitativa, descritiva, configurada como estudo de caso. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, com participação de 10 técnicos-administrativos. Os resultados revelam que a comunicação no DFCH ocorre por sistemas integrados de gestão (SIPAC, SIGRH e SIGAA), por e-mail e site institucional e, informalmente, por WhatsApp. Apresenta-se, como proposta, a criação de grupos vinculados à Assessoria Especial da Reitoria (AER), para o processo comunicacional.

The growth of the urban population raises concern about municipal public managers in the sense of providing emergency medical services (EMS) that are aligned with the needs of prehospital emergency medical care demanded by the population. The literature review aims at presenting the response time of emergency medical services in several parts of the world and discussing some factors that interfere in the result of this indicator such as GDP (Gross Domestic Product) percentage spent on health and life expectancy of countries. The study will also show that in some of the consulted articles, authors suggest to EMS recommendations for decreasing the response time using simulations, heuristics and metaheuristics. Response time is a basic indicator of emergency medical services, in such a way that researchers use the descriptive statistics to evaluate this parameter. Europe and the USA outstand in the publication of studies that present this information. Some articles use stochastic and mathematical methods to suggest models that simulate scenarios of response time reduction and suggest such proposals to the local EMS. Countries in which the response time was identified have a high index of human development and life expectancy between 74.7 and 83.7 years.

The present article seeks to describe how Big Data impacts on SMEs strategy, focusing both on planning and the use of strategy tools. It is a result of a participatory and practical action research in a small British Company ($2.5 Million annual turnover) specialized in business intelligence, conferences and tradeshows during 2014 to 2017. Throughout the research period, Big Data had a profound and multifaceted impact on the strategy and operations of the company, resulting in the changing of its products, adoption of new and more dynamic CRM systems, rethinking of the strategic tools utilized by the senior management and definition of new long term strategic goals. As a conclusion, it was noted that cultural predisposition to adopt Big Data technologies had a defining influence over the course of the strategic planning and operations; as the strategy for Big Data has to go beyond simply implementing technological changes – it actually has to exist before the adoption of new technologies is even considered – demanding commitment from the senior management team as well as the operational side of the business.