Patient Experience Journal (Aug 2020)
Caring for our caregivers in body, mind and spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
New York City became the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. The surge of critically ill patients combined with widespread social distancing measures created extraordinary challenges for healthcare workers. Many frontline workers experienced significant physical, psychological, and emotional distress. They faced demanding patient care responsibilities while managing personal obligations and health concerns. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was imperative that NewYork-Presbyterian care for its workforce’s physical, psychological and emotional needs, not only because of our commitment to our colleagues as people, but also because of our obligation to continue to deliver high quality care and experience to the patients, families and communities we serve. Research shows there is a vital link between employee experience and patient experience. Employees who feel supported will be more engaged, which leads to higher quality care and a better patient experience. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we supported our workforce holistically in body, mind and spirit so they could remain strong for the journey ahead and continue to serve our patients, families and communities throughout and at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. We learned that proactively communicating, supporting physical health and mental health needs and acknowledging bereavement was critical to responding to this crisis. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Staff & Provider Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework. (http://bit.ly/ExperienceFramework) Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens.
