TABLE 1 : Survey and Polling Results
Question |
Responses |
Response |
|
|
Frequency N (%) |
Have you previously experienced a public health emergency in a professional capacity ?
During a public health emergency , how confident are you that you ’ ll have access to timely and accurate information ?
What is your go-to source of trusted information ? ( May select more than one )
How confident are you as a provider in being adequately prepared for a public health emergency ?
How confident do you feel that your site is adequately prepared for a public health emergency ?
Do you have a line of communication with local community-based organizations providing health resources ?
Has your organization developed action plans to address public health emergencies ?
Yes 27 ( 18.1 %) No 121 ( 81 .%)
Unanswered 1 ( 0.7 %) Very Confident 40 ( 26.8 %)
Somewhat Confident 96 ( 64.4 %)
Somewhat Not Confident 11 ( 7.4 %) Not Confident at All 2 ( 1.3 %) Federal Government 84 ( 56.4 %)
State Government 74 ( 49.7 %) Local Health Agency 72 ( 48.3 %)
Organizational 86 ( 57.8 %) Leadership 78 ( 52.3 %)
Professional Organization 18 ( 12.1 %) News / Media 10 ( 6.7 %)
Other Very Confident 19 ( 12.8 %)
Somewhat Confident 101 ( 67.8 %) Somewhat Not Confident 28 ( 18.8 %)
Not Confident at All 1 ( 0.7 %) Very Confident 44 ( 29.5 %)
Somewhat Confident 84 ( 56.4 %) Somewhat Not Confident 17 ( 11.4 %)
Not Confident at All 3 ( 0.02 %)
Unanswered 1 ( 0.7 %) Yes 101 ( 67.8 %) No 15 ( 10.1 %)
I Don ' t Know 33 ( 22.1 %) Yes 133 ( 89.2 %) No 2 ( 1.3 %) I Don ' t Know 13 ( 8.7 %) Unanswered 1 ( 0.7 %) how to decrease the gap in support services and resources for front-line providers .
LIMITATIONS
The study contained some limitations . The number of survey respondents is low ( response rate = 37.1 %) and may not fully illustrate the statewide PCP perspective . However , our sample did have a wide coverage area of the state with diverse communities represented . Although we found this timing ideal for surveying the providers ’ perspectives on preparedness , many of the WVPBRN members were struggling to understand the impact COVID-19 would have on their clinics , patients , and themselves . Taking time away from the clinic to participate in this survey was not always a priority and led to a smaller response rate than CORE surveys in previous years . Secondly , many members of the WVPBRN belong to larger health systems . Independent or private practices are not well represented in the WVPBRN and therefore not well represented in this study .
CONCLUSION
This survey achieved a better understanding of the primary care perspective during public health emergencies , including where providers get their information , their perceived confidence in themselves and their sites , and awareness of resources available to them in order to further support or educate sites during health crises . The finding that the majority of respondents felt at least somewhat confident in the preparedness of their sites and themselves , indicates there is an opportunity to further explore the strategies to achieve much higher confidence in rural providers than those previously reported in PCPs . Rural health clinics are often smaller in size , both in population and staffing . Further investigation is needed to explain whether clinic size has any impact on the preparedness level differences between a rural health clinic from that of an urban health clinic setting .
Awareness of support systems and / or resources available to them may also be an issue for healthcare providers and professionals . Almost a third of respondents did not have or did not know if they had a direct line of communication with local organizations providing health services . Many opportunities for increased provider engagement have been created in WV in response to the pandemic . At the end of March 2020 , WV Project ECHO began its COVID-19 series , which highlights the latest updates , best practices , and research from infectious disease specialists . These sessions , which have become a valuable resource for hundreds of providers , offer an example of
Rural communities often need to become self-reliant and resourceful within their own settings as compared to urban areas . Rural health clinics face unique challenges daily and have to quickly adapt to the situations in which they are presented . These providers need to be given the opportunity to work on skills that are neces-
West Virginia Medical Journal • March 2023 • 27