Miss Karen Mckenna1, Dr Bernice Redley, Dr Stephane Bouchoucha, Dr Ana Hutchinson
1Mercy Health, Heidelberg Heights, Australia
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to learn about acute health organisations experiences implementing a pandemic response plan in real-time. This study was conducted to explore organisational leaders and clinicians’ perspectives on the organisational COVID19 pandemic response and the impact of this on service provision, staff members and consumers.
Methods: A mixed methods was conducted that included semi-structured interviews with organisational leaders and a cross-sectional survey of clinicians working at the study site in 2020-21. Interview data was analysed thematically using the (1) Hierarchy of Controls and (2) the Theoretical Domains Framework to frame the analysis. Cross-sectional survey data was analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and logic regression techniques.
Results: Twelve organisational leaders completed the semi-structured interviews. Key themes identified included: ‘Thinking on ones’ feet’, ‘unexpected impacts on demand and supply for PPE’, ‘the importance of strong leaders that are visible and present’; and ‘adjusting to the new COVID normal’. The survey was completed by 559 participants, the majority were nurses, midwives or allied-health staff (71%). Most worked in. acute care (71.6%) with 26.3 % working in critical care (26.3%). Overall, 106 (19%) reported that PPE related side-effects adversely affected their work, with significant differences between clinical areas (p < .001).
Conclusion: Organisational leaders reported far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of both acute and aged care services. Most staff reported being inadequately prepared for a global pandemic. Despite the considerable challenges most participants reported that the organisation was better prepared for potential future outbreaks.
Biography: Karen is an Infection Prevention professional in a leadership role at Mercy Health during the pandemic, and is currently doing her PhD at Deakin University.