Pathology Trainee Redeployment and Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Institutional Experience

Abstract

Pathology training programs throughout the United States have endured unprecedented challenges dealing with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. At Houston Methodist Hospital, the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine planned and executed a trainee-oriented, stepwise emergency response. The focus was on optimizing workflows among areas of both clinical and anatomic pathology, maintaining an excellent educational experience, and minimizing trainee exposure to coronavirus disease 2019. During the first phase of the response, trainees were divided into 2 groups: one working on-site and the other working remotely. With the progression of the pandemic, all trainees were called back on-site and further redeployed within our department to meet the significantly increased workload demands of our clinical laboratory services. Adjustments to trainee educational activities included, among others, the organization of a daily coronavirus disease 2019 virtual seminar series. This series served to facilitate communication between faculty, laboratory managers, and trainees. Moreover, it became a forum for trainees to provide updates on individual service workflows and volumes, ongoing projects and research, as well as literature reviews on coronavirus disease 2019–related topics. From our program’s experience, redeploying pathology trainees within our department during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic resulted in optimization of patient care while ensuring trainee safety, and importantly, helped to maintain continuous high-quality education through active involvement in unique learning opportunities.

Dermatopathology resident training and education during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges faced and lessons learned

“…As elective surgical procedures dried up and work load demands increased on certain clinical laboratory services, some pathology departments adjusted by redeploying personnel and residents in-training to services like molecular diagnostics, diagnostic immunology, transfusion medicine and informatics. 2 Other programs adapted by transitioning from standard to a hybrid on-site and remote training model. 3 …”

Exploration of the views and experiences of research healthcare professionals during their redeployment to clinical roles during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Following the H1N1 outbreak in Australia, one study was conducted using surveys investigating health workers’ absenteeism and sickness during the pandemic (Considine et al, 2011). Seven studies, surveys and articles were found relating to COVID‐19 redeployment, of those only one touched on the needs of non‐medically trained staff (Coughlan et al, 2020, Faderani et al, 2020, Johnston et al, 2020, Lim et al, 2020, Monroig‐Bosque et al, 2020, Mummery & Kipps, 2020 and Spiegelman et al, 2020) but the focus remained on medical doctors. Mummery and Kipps (2020) advocates for flexibility, accounting for individuals’ circumstances, health risks and skills when considering redeployment strategy and staff well‐being.…”

Overcoming Educational Challenges and Impact of COVID-19 in a Pathology Residency Program

“…Early in the pandemic, the pathology residents at numerous institutions throughout the United States were re-deployed to medical services due to a shortage of personnel. 4 Pathology residents were also shifted within programs from high risk rotations to remote learning. 4 Although there was never a personnel shortage at our own institution, plans were laid out in case such a need arose.…”

“… 4 Pathology residents were also shifted within programs from high risk rotations to remote learning. 4 Although there was never a personnel shortage at our own institution, plans were laid out in case such a need arose. This would have involved placing postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residents on medical services with direct supervision from medical interns and residents.…”