Staff Experiences at a New York City Medical Center During the Spring Peak of the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose: In March-April 2020, New York City was overwhelmed by COVID-19 infections, leading to substantial disruptions in nearly all aspects of care and operations at most local hospitals. This qualitative study of a quaternary, urban oncology hospital investigated the effects of these disruptions upon a professionally diverse cohort of its employees, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, security guards, histology technicians, and environmental services workers. Methods: The participant pool were selected through a combination of purposive and random sampling methodology and coders performed a thematic content analysis of open-ended responses. Results: Analysis revealed several important themes, including concerns about exposure for self and others; patient care as a source of both satisfaction and stress; psychological consequences of uncertainty and ambiguity; family as sources of both comfort and apprehension; the importance of adequate institutional communication; and support from colleagues. Conclusion: Results and analysis provide suggestions for institutional policies and initiatives in the event of a COVID-19 surge or another public health crisis. Administrative efforts should aspire to establish, strengthen, and promote interdisciplinary and interdepartmental efforts to address, and mitigate workplace and personal stressors. through timely and transparent communications, consistent clinical guidance and information about changes in hospital policies and supplemental employee assistance.

Clinical Ethics Consultation During the First COVID-19 Pandemic Surge at an Academic Medical Center: A Mixed Methods Analysis

“…The resulting persistent burnout amongst all health professionals did not become fully evident until the end of this first surge. As healthcare institutions and the entire world resets and moves on to a post pandemic world (Baines et al, 2020 ), it is imperative that healthcare ethics consultants recognize the shared trauma that healthcare workers experienced (Blackler et al, 2021 ) and consider how to build resilience and ongoing ethical decision making capacity (Resnick & Fins, 2021 ).…”