The COVID 19 outbreak has placed bizarre on our health system. Our health services and workforce are currently overflowing with a surplus of activities for controlling the pandemic. The risk of compromising on health services which communities expect arises here. On one hand, health care staff is struggling to find enough personal protective equipment to ensure their safety, and on the other hand lack of ventilator supplies and services where patients are fighting for their lives in ICU. In such a critical situation the role of leaders in the hospital becomes very vital. Unlike any other organization HR in hospitals is also facing challenges. HR managers don’t directly work with patients but the actions they take and decisions they make affect the quality of services provided. The performance of hospitals solely depends on the performance of their staff.
In many hospitals, patients are not getting satisfactory services. Lack of facilities is acting as a hindrance between doctors and patients. In the absence of a definite cure for the infection, their work has become tougher. The pressure from patients and their families is acting as additional stress for them. The threat of catching the disease and infecting their near ones often looms over them as many healthcare workers have been infected during the treatment of patients. They are living in a separate place because of the fear of getting infected.
Wearing PPE kit, gloves, mask for hours in present weather conditions is becoming unbearable. With the lack of medical staff, many doctors and nurses are working for 6-7 hours in a go. They can’t even use the washroom during this time as wearing and removing the PPE kit is not an easy task. We have been hearing about ill-treatment with medical staff at various places across the country. Many healthcare workers have been asked to leave their accommodations by societies or by the landlord during this critical period. Amidst all these issues providing proper treatment to patients is the ultimate goal of this profession. It's not just a job, it is a service to the nation. The leaders and managers have to take steps to boost up the morale of healthcare staff. HR unlike any organization is responsible for recruiting, training, promoting, and serving their various needs.
During this crucial period involvement of HR is extremely necessary to keep the workforce engaged and able to fight burnout.
Gathering Employee Feedback during the Crisis
A proper flow of communication is a must in any organization. During the COVID pandemic, this becomes paramount for every hospital. HR needs to ensure that both patients and health staff are being heard. Taking regular feedback from staff is necessary to fill the loopholes. HR must take timely meetings or through informal communication, be in touch with staff to understand their needs and issues. They are the ones who are working on the ground level. Nobody can better analyze this crisis other than the health care staff. They must feel free to share their requirements and problems.
Staffing Problem
The shortage of health care workers is severely affecting India’s COVID-19 response. Staff shortage has plagued new COVID-19 centers that have been set up to deal with the influx of patients. Lack of trained health care professionals is a major constraint on our ability to achieve effective health care services. There needs to be increased investment in health care force along with adequate safety measures. Medical staff working for a prolonged time without a change in shifts is getting on their nerves. This gap has to be filled by HR by rapid hiring, orientation, and onboarding process. HRs should make use of technology to make this process rapid. Health department officials even suggested appointing post-graduate students who are waiting for their results.
Safety Of Health Workers
COVID-19 is highly infectious. To treat patients, doctors and medical staff has to wear a PPE kit which includes protective clothing, goggles, gloves, etc. But due to the short supply of these, medical staff is under pressure. They are avoiding a timely visit to patients. Many doctors and nurses are infected by this deadly virus. The threat of being diagnosed positive and the safety of the family is not allowing them to give their 100 percent. In such a case it becomes the foremost responsibility of HR to make sure that medical staff gets all the required safety resources. He must make sure the PPE kits, sanitizers, and other safety equipment are being stocked. A certain amount of funds can be reserved for the same.
Boosting Morale
COVID-19 has placed extreme stress on the health care system more than ever. The prolonged working hours, being far from family for months, working with limited resources, has burdened the healthcare staff. Healthcare institutions need to reward their frontline employees and boost their morale. HR managers have to play a vital role here. They must ensure the emotional well-being of their employees along with the physical state. Providing them timely breaks for refreshment is extremely important. Many employees feel overworked and underpaid. HR needs to make sure to resolve this issue and relieve stress by worry overpay. Staff must be paid extra for the extra working hours. The life of health care staff is also at great risk in this pandemic. Insurance of staff and their families is another way to reduce their stress. Apart from this recognition for their work is a must.
Optimum Use Of Technology
Social distancing should not create the communication gap between HR and staff. The staff must feel connected to leaders and HR. HR must stay connected with the staff using phone or video conferencing. This will enable them to share their requirements, queries, feedback on a timely basis.
Adequate Training
HR needs to insure that complete staff is trained to face the upcoming situations. The nursing staff and other health care workers must be properly taught about all safety measures and hygiene to be maintained on premises during COVID-19. At the time of lack of workforce training the staff to fill this gap is need of the hour. As many health care workers are also being infected by this virus, they have to remain in isolation for a certain time. Due to this remaining staff must be well versed to handle the unpredictable situation.
It's hard to state for how long this virus is going to stay. HR has to act as a binding force in hospitals. He has to make sure that the need for employees is met to the best so that they can wholeheartedly provide service to patients. The name and fame of any organization are dependent on the people they have within the system and satisfactory services provided by them. Directly or indirectly HR plays a dominant role in catering to the needs of both.
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