How Training And Education Aided The Frontline Workers During The Pandemic

Like the recent pandemic, i.e., COVID-19, the world had survived several other pandemics, including cholera, plague, Spanish flu, etc., which developed an unending health crisis globally. But, no one would have ever imagined that we would be witnessing a deadly pandemic with no solution at hand in this modern era.

What’s even more surprising is that no country was ready for such a devastating global health concern. Perhaps, the situation that arose during the pandemic was beyond our expectations. The daily death count and the newly diagnosed cases elevated with every passing hour, making it difficult for healthcare organizations and governments to keep track and control the situation. 

Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has majorly affected almost every other industry, and healthcare is no exception. Like the rest of us, frontline workers also underwent a paradigm shift in their lives and careers.

Many health professionals left their jobs due to the increasing workload, burnout issues, lack of workforce, etc. In contrast, those already working had to learn to adapt to the new environment and develop more effective ways to cope with difficult situations.

Getting through the pandemic called for a lot of training, physical stamina, and crisis management to deal with the snowballing situations at hospitals across the country. Many paramedics and medical technicians went above and beyond in the line of duty.

It was the essence of front liners which took charge of the situation to deal situation on hand. It was pivotal to ensure that correct information was being passed onto the general public during such crises. It set the foundation for many skilled individuals responsible for providing medical assistance or transporting patients to the emergency room for instant care. 

This article will highlight the role of training and education in helping healthcare professionals combat the pandemic.

Digital transformation 

The pandemic brought a dynamic shift in the workforce, and many businesses shifted to remote working.

However, the frontline workers were on-site due to the increasing number of patients requiring emergency care. As a result, hospitals had to shut many of their departments to prevent other patients from contracting the virus. Several hospitals opted for telehealth solutions to reduce patient visits the hospitals.

Treating patients through analyzing their symptoms on an application or website and generating automated prescriptions was once a dream for modern healthcare. 

During the pandemic, many patients suffering from chronic illnesses could not visit hospitals due to the influx of COVID-19 cases. Instead, they relied on telehealth services to seek medical assistance.  

At the same time, it introduced opportunities for many enthusiasts willing to take up the challenge for roles as paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

Additionally, there were ample opportunities for specialists serving in various communities to polish their skills by enrolling in EMT continuing education and NREMT refreshers. Through specialized training, the healthcare staff and emergency responders provided services to their patients efficiently and effectively. 

Crisis management 

The situation that we have faced during the pandemic was a global crisis. The increasing death toll, unemployment rate, and losing a loved one were no less than a nightmare for anyone, including the frontline workers.

Doctors and nurses had to witness thousands of people suffering daily. In addition to working extra hours, these professionals had to ensure that every patient receives quality care. 

While working as frontline warriors, these professionals had to cope with extra working hours, additional stress, and emotional instability.

According to a recent report published by the Royal College of Nursing Research Society, 24% of the nurses and midwives suffering from severe depression in the UK alone.

Working for long hours caused burnout and mental distress in many hospitals. A study from Egypt conducted during the pandemic reported that 98.5% of the participants had severe to moderate stress. 

It was high time for the hospital administrators to ensure these frontline workers’ mental and emotional well-being during this crisis. Many new paramedics attended the training for crisis management and how to cope with the mental stress during this global crisis.

It was vital to look after the well-being of healthcare workers to keep the system and medical assistance running smoothly. Teaching and training healthcare workers to identify signs and symptoms of mental distress have aided in preventing the incidence of severe mental health issues. 

Collaboration and teamwork 

This current pandemic highlighted the shortage of healthcare workers existing across the healthcare systems.

The staff shortage came upon in notice with the snowballing of patients in every hospital. With a massive number of patients and less capacity in hospitals, authorities opted to collaborate with sister healthcare systems to control the situation.

The hospital staff had to undergo short and quick training sessions related to teamwork and collaboration. The good part was that hospital staff coordinated with each other and contributed to control the global crisis. 

Communication 

One of the most significant factors related to training and education was effective risk communication. Healthcare workers and other professionals have effective communication skills, but this pandemic demanded more than just effective communication.

The only possible solution to control the rising numbers of reported cases was to opt for robust risk communication across every medium. Training the hospital staff to convey the message and potential risks without ambiguity helped spread awareness among people and follow the preventive measures

Conclusion 

It was not even in our slightest figment of imagination that the world will face such a deadly pandemic. Based on the modern world progress and groundbreaking research in the healthcare system, none of us could have predicted such a pandemic in upcoming years.

The COVID-19 made the world realized that these pandemics can still occur, but we must be ready to face them. The immediate training and education programs introduced during the pandemic have aided them in executing their duties more professionally, catering to every patient.

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