Healthcare provider experiences during COVID-19 redeployment

Area of Science:

• Medical Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Public Health Crises

Background:

• COVID-19 necessitated rapid healthcare provider (HCP) redeployment, introducing significant stressors.
• Redeployment impacted HCP mental health, influencing emotions and well-being during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on HCP redeployment experiences during COVID-19.
• To examine institutional support mechanisms for redeployed staff.
• To propose a theoretical framework for mitigating negative mental health impacts.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature on healthcare provider redeployment.
• Analysis of factors influencing HCP emotional responses and benefit-finding.
• Theoretical approach development for posttraumatic growth.

Main Results:

• Early COVID-19 redeployment predicted negative emotions; later stages showed more benefit-finding.
• Adequate training, support, and information improved redeployed HCP satisfaction.
• Redeployment offered opportunities for accomplishment, leadership, meaning, and team connection.

Conclusions:

• Benefit-finding, or posttraumatic growth, can emerge from adversity, enhancing resilience.
• A benefit-finding, relational, and existential approach can support HCPs.
• COVID-19 redeployment can be leveraged for individual and institutional posttraumatic growth.