Filling the gaps in the COVID-19 pandemic response: medical personnel in the US military health system.
Burnout
COVID-19 pandemic
Medical personnel
Military health system
Journal
BMC health services research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Titre abrégé: BMC Health Serv Res
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088677
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 Sep 2024
27 Sep 2024
Historique:
received:
19
01
2024
accepted:
19
09
2024
medline:
28
9
2024
pubmed:
28
9
2024
entrez:
28
9
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented public health emergency that heavily affected the healthcare workforce. Although the Military Health System (MHS) has robust capabilities and was able to deploy medical staff to support civilian hospitals during the crisis, it too was adversely impacted by personnel issues. We aimed to identify and address gaps in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare personnel in the MHS. We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with 28 MHS stakeholders, including policymakers, program managers, and healthcare providers. We recruited respondents using purposive and snowball sampling until we reached thematic saturation. Interviews were conducted virtually from December 2022 to March 2023 and coded by deductive thematic analysis using NVivo. Burnout and mental health concerns across the workforce increased during the pandemic, although some felt military culture facilitated resilience. Reduction in personnel was noted and slow hiring processes and noncompetitive wages hindered hiring, contributing to staffing shortages. Initial disruptions occurred in training and skills readiness, although these issues were reduced over time. Concerns remain about newer trainees' preparedness and teaching staff's availability in the MHS. This study uniquely assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response on the MHS healthcare workforce through in-depth key informant interviews. Multi-pronged strategies are needed to promote personnel well-being in complex healthcare systems like the MHS.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented public health emergency that heavily affected the healthcare workforce. Although the Military Health System (MHS) has robust capabilities and was able to deploy medical staff to support civilian hospitals during the crisis, it too was adversely impacted by personnel issues. We aimed to identify and address gaps in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare personnel in the MHS.
METHODS
METHODS
We conducted semi-structured key informant interviews with 28 MHS stakeholders, including policymakers, program managers, and healthcare providers. We recruited respondents using purposive and snowball sampling until we reached thematic saturation. Interviews were conducted virtually from December 2022 to March 2023 and coded by deductive thematic analysis using NVivo.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Burnout and mental health concerns across the workforce increased during the pandemic, although some felt military culture facilitated resilience. Reduction in personnel was noted and slow hiring processes and noncompetitive wages hindered hiring, contributing to staffing shortages. Initial disruptions occurred in training and skills readiness, although these issues were reduced over time. Concerns remain about newer trainees' preparedness and teaching staff's availability in the MHS.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This study uniquely assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response on the MHS healthcare workforce through in-depth key informant interviews. Multi-pronged strategies are needed to promote personnel well-being in complex healthcare systems like the MHS.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39334343
doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11616-6
pii: 10.1186/s12913-024-11616-6
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1140Subventions
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Organisme : Defense Health Agency
ID : HU001-21-2-0089
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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