The most challenging time of our careers. Health care workers’ experiences activating the pandemic response plan. An organisational case-study

The most challenging time of our careers. Health care workers’ experiences activating the pandemic response plan.
An organisational case-study

Karen McKenna¹, Ana Hutchinson², Stephane Bouchoucha², ,

¹Mercy Health, HEIDELBERG, VIC, Australia
²Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia


Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to learn about acute health organisations experiences implementing a pandemic response plan in real-time. This study was conducted to explore frontline clinicians’ perspectives on the organisational COVID19 pandemic response and the impact of this on their roles, colleagues and consumers.

Methods
A mixed methods study was conducted that included semi-structured leadership interviews, focus groups with frontline healthcare workers. Interview data was analysed thematically using the (1) Hierarchy of Controls and (2) the Theoretical Domains Framework to frame the analysis.

Results
The key themes identified in the leadership interviews and focus groups were: (1) The importance of an effective communications strategy, (2) Fear my job will kill me, and (3) Disruptions in Personal protective Equipment supply chains. Focus group participants also discussed their experiences: (4) Working in survival mode, and (5) providing care to patients and the public. Front line clinicians reported the COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on care provision and described this time as the most challenging in their careers.

Conclusion
While the themes identified between the leadership group and the frontline clinicians were similar, organisational leaders and frontline staff had divergent opinions about the organisational response. These findings highlight the need to establish common goals and purpose at the outset of an emergency to optimise the use of everyone’s efforts.

Biography

Karen is the Manager of Infection Prevention at Mercy Health in Victoria. She is currently doing her PhD in the evaluation of the pandemic response and experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, an organisational case study, at Deakin University