A proactive learning approach toward building adaptive capacity during COVID-19: A radiology case study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Pandemic Response

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid organizational adaptation without established protocols.
• Understanding frontline perspectives is crucial for effective adaptation strategies.
• Radiology departments faced unique challenges in maintaining operations during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of frontline radiology staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify themes and enablers of adaptive capacity within a pediatric hospital's radiology department.
• To demonstrate a survey-tool for proactively identifying frontline adaptations.

Main Methods:

• A survey-tool was implemented among frontline radiology staff at a large pediatric hospital.
• Qualitative analysis of free-text responses identified themes of adaptive capacity.
• Quantitative data from multiple-choice questions identified challenges, enablers, and resources.

Main Results:

• Five themes underpinned adaptive capacity: information flow, attitudes/initiative, workflows, resources, and teamwork.
• Timely communication from leadership and flexible workflows (e.g., remote screening) were key enablers.
• The study identified challenges faced by staff and resources utilized.

Conclusions:

• A survey-tool effectively captured frontline staff experiences and adaptations during the pandemic.
• Findings informed a system-wide intervention, demonstrating the tool's practical impact.
• The survey-tool can supplement existing learning mechanisms to support organizational adaptive capacity.