The pandemic is highlighting the absolute indispensability of a dedicated and fearless healthcare workforce , and the need to better ensure the safety and health of workers has become the topic of a national conversation .”
HCP may need additional protections in place , such as furlough , reassignment from the care of COVID-19 patients , or ongoing testing at a set interval during hospitalization . Research on costs and effectiveness of policies , such as pre-operative and on-admission screening , can inform practice , improve HCP safety , enhance HCP confidence in safety processes , and reduce staffing challenges .”
The preponderance of studies coming out of the medical literature is revealing the capacity for conflicting information to exist side by side , making clinical decision-making regarding patient care more difficult . As the SHEA whitepaper ( 2021 ) notes , “ Controversy persists about determining what medical procedures may allow opportunistic airborne transmission of pathogens traditionally considered to follow droplet transmission . Key considerations include the size of particles generated during specific procedures , and the ability of the pathogen to survive in small particles , and the infectious dose for the pathogen ( amount of virus carried in small airborne particles sufficient to cause infection if inhaled ). These questions have important implications for air handling and PPE selection recommendations to minimize transmission risk in healthcare settings .”
The authors of the SHEA whitepaper ( 2021 ) emphasize the need for identifying policies that support the social , emotional , and economic needs of HCP to maintain workforce resilience and decreasing presenteeism , burnout , and turnover during the protracted COVID-19 pandemic . They add , “ Developing an evidence base to inform these policies requires understanding how the pandemic has affected HCP social , emotional , and physical health , finances , ability to care for families , and decisions to come to work . A mixed-methods , implementation-science approach can inform local , institutional , and national policies and practices to support HCP resiliency , job security , ability to isolate or quarantine effectively , and social support ( e . g ., hazard and sick pay policies , housing options , and consistent childcare ).”
In early February , the Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert on managing safety concerns of healthcare workers during COVID-19 , based on more than 2,000 comments collected throughout the pandemic by the agency ’ s Office of Quality and Patient Safety ( OQPS ).
As the Joint Commission explained , “ The continuing onslaught of COVID-19 is pushing healthcare organizations to their limits and workers beyond physical exhaustion , inflicting emotional damage on those who care for patients . Public health experts project that high rates of infection and mortality will continue through the winter , despite the recent rollout of vaccines . The pandemic is highlighting the absolute indispensability of a dedicated and fearless healthcare workforce , and the need to better ensure the safety and health of workers has become the topic of a national conversation .”
These comments from healthcare workers , their loved ones and other community members during the pandemic , are summarized in Sentinel Event Alert 62 , Voices from the Pandemic : Healthcare Workers in the Midst of Crisis . The document is first in a series of alerts that address healthcare workers ’ concerns and provide guidance on how to respond to their crisis , helping prepare them for the often-overwhelming circumstances surrounding caring for patients during a pandemic .
According to the comments made to OQPS , some of the most common concerns healthcare workers have about the pandemic are :
●Fear of the unknown ●Fear of getting sick ●Fear of bringing the virus home ●Staff shortages and other issues
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted for much longer than many of us anticipated , and healthcare workers are feeling the physical and emotional strain of longer hours , higher patient-provider ratios and rising patient death tolls ,” says Ana Pujols McKee , MD , executive vice president , chief medical officer , and chief diversity and inclusion officer for the Joint Commission . “ While vaccinations offer an opportunity to end the pandemic , healthcare organizations have a responsibility to support their workers ’ wellbeing for the long term .”
To address these concerns , the alert encourages healthcare organizations to :
●Foster open and transparent communication to build trust , reduce fears , build morale and sustain an effective workforce .
●Remove barriers to healthcare workers seeking mental health services and develop systems that support institutional , as well as individual , resilience .
●Protect workers ’ safety using the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety ( NIOSH ) Hierarchy of Controls framework .
●Develop a flexible workforce ; evaluate the work being performed and determine if it can be performed remotely .
●Provide clinicians and others with opportunities to collaborate , lead and innovate .
The Joint Commission ’ s alert on HCP safety came shortly after the World Health Organization ( WHO ) called on governments and healthcare leaders to address persistent threats to the health and safety of healthcare workers and patients .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded all of us of the vital role health workers play to relieve suffering and save lives ,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , WHO ’ s director-general in a statement . “ No country , hospital or clinic can keep its patients safe unless it keeps its health workers safe .”
WHO ’ s Health Worker Safety Charter details five actions to ensure the occupational health and safety of healthcare workers : Protect healthcare workers from