[Once a caregiver, always a caregiver].

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems globally.
• In March 2020, France declared a state of health emergency, necessitating rapid mobilization of resources.
• Training managers were redeployed to support frontline healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role and practices of healthcare managers during the COVID-19 crisis in France.
• To analyze how the health emergency context influenced management within the French health system.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of the experiences of redeployed training managers.
• Review of management practices in response to the health crisis.

Main Results:

• The redeployment highlighted the adaptability and essential role of managers in crisis situations.
• The crisis provided unique insights into the functioning and potential improvements for healthcare management.
• Re-evaluation of established management practices became necessary.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical importance of flexible and responsive management in healthcare.
• Experiences gained during the crisis offer valuable lessons for strengthening health system resilience and management strategies.