Rapid Mobilization of Medical Students to Provide Health Care Workers With Emergency Childcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Problem In March 2020, the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread rapidly within the United States and began overwhelming the health care system. To conserve personal protective equipment, reduce the spread of the virus, and keep student learners safe, leaders of medical schools across the country made the difficult decision to suspend in-person clinical experiences. As medical students were sent home and hospital systems ramped up their response to the virus, many essential health care workers (HCWs) faced an immediate challenge. As “nonessential” services such as schools and daycare centers abruptly closed, HCWs serving on the frontlines in inpatient settings needed a way to both fight the pandemic and care for their children. Approach Medical students at Oregon Health & Science University were able to rapidly OR organize to provide childcare for essential HCWs. For roughly 8 weeks following the state of emergency (March 13 through May 15, 2020), students used Twitter and emerging technology to match families in need of childcare with a trainee volunteer. Outcomes By May 15th, the service had successfully fulfilled 181 of the 202 requests for childcare (90%) over the course of 8 weeks. Of the 181 completed childcare requests, 172 (95%) were fulfilled by an individual (1:1 volunteer-to-household pairing), and 9 (5%) were fulfilled by 2 or more volunteers. Next Steps The trainees who provided childcare will apply the skills learned (e.g., clear communication, grassroots organizing, triaging, leveraging new technology) to patient care. Broader applications for this system include organizing volunteers to conduct contract tracing or to provide public health information in languages other than English. Future research includes examining the effect of the service on the productivity, morale, and mental health of both those who provided and received childcare.

Cross-sector Decision Landscape in Response to COVID-19: A Qualitative Analysis of North Carolina Decision-Makers

“…21 Our finding that cross-sector collaborations were critical components of the COVID-19 pandemic response builds upon several prior studies illustrating specific collaborations emerging in response to COVID-19-related needs, ranging from childcare for healthcare workers to local COVID-19 surveillance through school districts. [22][23][24][25] In line with our findings, prior work has emphasized the importance of community engagement in comprehensive pandemic responses and the necessity of communicating with stakeholders amidst changing, uncertain information. 26 Challenges with community-based approaches, however, include balancing the need to respond quickly with the time it takes to meaningfully garner stakeholder perspectives.…”

Nurses’ Work–Family Strategies during COVID-19 Lockdown and Their Association with Individual Health and Family Relations

“…Regarding practical implications, because work-family management strategies play an important role in nurses' health and performance, for future planning and risk mitigation purposes, practitioners and policymakers should pay attention to possibilities operating at a family level during the lockdown period. Rather than providing a one-size-fits-all solution [67] or a direct service of childcare [67], we recommend considering the diversity of the work-family strategies and providing tailored support. First, due to the prevalence of the "husband does it all" strategy and the outsourcing strategies, and their potential doubleedged effects, nurses should be encouraged to discuss options with their family members before the lockdown in order to prepare for the changes in family roles and reduce possible role ambiguity and stress afterward.…”

Education and Training Adaptations for Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Lessons Learned and Innovations

“…This involved infrastructural adjustments and addressing daily challenges presented by the pandemic. For instance, hospitals restructured staff allocations to cater to the surge in COVID-19 patients, introducing new scheduling systems [3] and mobilizing medical students and volunteers [4][5][6]. Digital health approaches, such as telemedicine, became instrumental in facilitating remote patient care [7].…”