The impact of COVID‐19 on the hospice and palliative care workforce

• DOI: 10.1111/phn.12827
• Publication Date: 2020-10-28T01:15:40Z
• Authors: Jeannette Kates; Angela Gerolamo; Monika Pogorzelsk...
• Keywords: Pandemic; Social distance

Abstract Objective To understand the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on hospice and palliative workforce service delivery. Design sample This was a cross‐sectional survey 36 care members representing all United States geographic regions. Results Most respondents (70%) reported an increase in specific services as result pandemic. Two thirds (78%) their agency has cared for confirmed patients. Only half had access to laboratory facilities surveillance detection outbreaks both patients staff (58%) that could test providers (55%). Qualitative comments described resulting social distancing measures emotional well‐being patients, families, staff. Conclusions Our findings suggest strained it provides increased at unprecedented rate families. The implications these are important public health nurses who skilled disaster management quickly responding emergencies. expertise can be leveraged support agencies they strive manage communities serve.