Supporting the Healthcare Community Morale During the COVID-19 Pandemic
We’ve all experienced the consequences of COVID-19 in different ways. While we have nearly all been impacted negatively somehow, the morale of healthcare workers has undoubtedly been a major victim of the pandemic. As a health pandemic on a scale the current generation has never seen before, healthcare workers at the front line had next to no preparation or warning of the disaster they encountered.
Through experiencing the long hours, lack of resources, and the fatal effects of this virus on their patients firsthand, many hospitals and health systems also worked tirelessly to support healthcare workers. Working in health care is mentally and physically demanding at the best of times, which meant some systems were in place pre-pandemic, but below, we look at some methods created to support workers during the crisis.
Virtual Communities and New Support Systems
First responders saw a side of the pandemic that many of us had the privilege of avoiding. Hospitals and emergency departments worldwide were utterly overwhelmed with patients without enough beds and equipment to support their recovery.
This is where health care support systems prevailed by providing a platform for workers to connect, share their stories, and feel heard. One example is AHA’s Health Services platform, which is a virtual community for workers in healthcare. Here, they share their experiences, which offers a chance to process their experience while other related professionals can provide support.
The community encourages users to share how they support their mental wellbeing, which can help others adopt better self-care methods. One of the system channels offers a place to discuss and ideate health care reform to better support the staff within the field, with communication to a network of subject matter experts to help materialize the visions. Community members raised and executed many fantastic ideas, some of which are explained below:
Free Food and Comfort Dogs!
After the idea was raised, AllianceHealth Ponca City provided free breakfasts for healthcare workers, which physically nourished staff with delicious food and also helps them feel appreciated and supported. There’s support for these staff members during shifts, too, with an emotional support dog that makes the department rounds to check-in and offers a floppy ear to each health care worker.
Wellness Centers
Many hospitals around the country have created or enhanced their wellness centers, helping healthcare workers feel appreciated while tackling the heart of the problem – stress relief. Zen rooms, meditation centers, time-out rooms, yoga sessions, and light therapy support are common features hospitals provide. During the pandemic, wellness centers and therapy for healthcare workers can help them process their work experiences, feel calmer, and take regular breaks.
Hope Huddles
Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC developed their own ‘hope huddles’ for emergency room and intensive care unit workers. These huddles allowed individuals to discuss their stories, emphasizing optimism, closure, and camaraderie. Relating to others experiencing a similar situation seems critical in the wellbeing of healthcare workers whose families may not fully understand.
The Quick Response for a Sudden Crisis
The unexpected and unprecedented nature of the pandemic meant that hospitals and health systems had to react quickly to support the mental wellbeing and team morale of healthcare workers, and many were able to implement practical solutions that alleviate stress for many. Thank you, healthcare workers.
