Letters in High Energy Physics (Feb 2024)
Building Resilience in Healthcare: A Review of the Critical Roles and Impact of Medical Workers Across the Healthcare System
Abstract
Building resilience within healthcare systems is essential for ensuring continuity of care, especially during crises such as pandemics, natural disasters, and other emergencies. This review examines the critical roles and impact of medical workers across various healthcare sectors—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and support staff—in contributing to system-wide resilience. We explore the diverse challenges these professionals face, including high workloads, resource shortages, mental health strain, and gaps in preparedness. Additionally, this article highlights key strategies for fostering resilience, such as organizational support, interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, and technological integration. Through selected case studies of healthcare responses to major crises, we analyze the lessons learned and identify actionable insights to improve future healthcare resilience. This review concludes by emphasizing the need for policy support, continuous training, and comprehensive mental health resources to build a sustainable, resilient healthcare workforce capable of maintaining high-quality care under pressure.
