Background/hypothesis: The purpose of the study was to see whether one can determine different occupational cultures in the Emergency Medical Air Ambulance Service and whether these differences in orientation among the crewmembers may have an impace on effective crew coordination. Due to different requirements of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), each crewmember joins the duty with different backgrounds, interests and expectations. The operational stresses of this kind of service, however, demand teamwork and may easily expose the crew's ability to coordinate their actions to work as a team.
Method: The initial study consisted of 60 operational crewmembers from the Norwegian Air Ambulance Service. Hofstede's questionnaire Values Survey Module was administered for an evaluation of occupational culture.
Results: The analysis reveals group differences at the occupational level in the perception of power distribution, team orientation and achievement preferences.
Conclusion: We conclude that differences in certain work goals might be attributed partly by specific attitudes and values from the occupational categories' professional background, which influence the interpretation of established rules and procedures in the service. The results are further discussed in relation to the crewmembers' different task demands and areas of responsibility, and emphasis is put on organizational responsibility for enhancing safety and efficiency in the service.