Development of Wellness Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Abstract

Health care workers are on the front lines of the recent pandemic, facing significant challenges to their physical and mental health. This article details the efforts undertaken by a health care system and two academically affiliated hospital systems to provide emotional support to their frontline staff. The multipronged approach describes coordinating efforts to decrease duplication of services and to increase centralization of information. This included enhancing pathways for faculty, staff, and trainees to obtain individual and group treatment and to have access to high-quality self-help resources. Continuous feedback has been elicited to ensure that efforts are consistent with expressed needs and in turn services undergo modifications as needed. This article seeks to provide an overview of how one health system has thus far approached the important issue of staff support as well as the challenges experienced and lessons learned along the way. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2020;50(7):288–294.]

“At Home, with Care”: Lessons from New York City Home‐based Primary Care Practices Managing COVID‐19

“…Despite these support efforts, participants reported psychological exhaustion caused by the volume of patient deaths and rapid pace of change. Our results suggest that similar to other frontline healthcare workers, the pandemic has had a substantial effect on the mental health of HBPC providers 18‐20 …”

“…Our results suggest that similar to other frontline healthcare workers, the pandemic has had a substantial effect on the mental health of HBPC providers. [18][19][20]…”

Strategies to Strengthen Mental Health Services in Hospital during Covid-19

“…Suicide prevention in health care needs interdisciplinary interventions, aggressive and early management (Chacko et al, 2020), as well as leader support from sturdy leadership, timely communication, investment in technology, teams and mental health before the pandemic, have all contributed to the success of the staff's growing support efforts (Spray et al, 2020). Psychiatrists in France are reorganizing their offer of treatment and creating emergency care, while at the same time having to be prepared to prevent and manage any negative effects that may occur.…”

“…Management should take the prevention of fatigue in health care workers with a Strength-Focused and Transformation-Oriented Approach, awareness, and how workers feel grateful for what they have done and got (Bansal et al, 2020). Staff support programs are developed by an interdisciplinary staff support team to support and care for frontline medical staff and are managed through coordination and collaboration and almost seamlessly across a network of departments across health systems, cities, countries, international medical networks, academia and professional organizations (Spray et al, 2020). Roncero et al (2020) started a mental health assistance program for professionals by conducting interventions and telephone consultations.…”

Collaborating Across Private, Public, Community, and Federal Hospital Systems: Lessons Learned from the Covid-19 Pandemic Response in NYC

“…Wellness programs were provided to all NYU employees through an interactive webpage specifically created in light of Covid-19 ( Figure 4 ). 29 …”