Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany
Abstract Background As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe at the beginning of 2020, healthcare systems were forced to rapidly adapt and expand to meet the sudden surge in demand for intensive care services. This study is the first systematic analysis of the strategies employed by German ho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10848-w |
| _version_ | 1797219938994225152 |
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| author | Lara C. Stroth Franziska Jahns Berit Bode Maike Stender Michelle Schmidt Heiko Baschnegger Nurith Epstein Benedikt Sandmeyer Carla Nau |
| author_facet | Lara C. Stroth Franziska Jahns Berit Bode Maike Stender Michelle Schmidt Heiko Baschnegger Nurith Epstein Benedikt Sandmeyer Carla Nau |
| author_sort | Lara C. Stroth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe at the beginning of 2020, healthcare systems were forced to rapidly adapt and expand to meet the sudden surge in demand for intensive care services. This study is the first systematic analysis of the strategies employed by German hospitals to recruit personnel and expand bed capacities during the first wave of the pandemic, and to evaluate the effectiveness of those recruitment measures. Methods 152 German hospitals with intensive care capacities were selected and invited to participate in an online-based retrospective survey. Factors like the geographic distribution, individual COVID burden and level of care were considered for inclusion in the sample. The data were analyzed descriptively. Results A total of 41 hospitals participated in the survey. The additional demand for intensive care beds was met primarily by activating intensive care beds that were previously considered as non-operational in existing intensive care units (81% of respondents) and by upgrading recovery rooms (73%). The physician staffing requirements were met at approximately 75%, while the nursing staffing requirements were only met by about 45%. Staffing needs were met through reallocations/transfers (85%), staff recruitment from parental leave or retirement (49%), increased hours worked by internal staff (49%), new staff hiring (44%) and increased use of temporary staff (32%). Staff reallocations/transfers to critical care within a hospital were rated as the most effective measure. In this context, specialized personnel mostly from anesthesiology departments were appointed to intensive care medicine. Conclusions Despite multiple recruitment efforts, the pandemic has exacerbated the nursing staff shortage. The reallocation of existing staff within hospitals was a key element in covering the staffing needs. However, additional measures and efforts are required in order to ensure that critically ill patients can be cared for without compromise. The results of this study may have important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers, offering an evidence-based foundation for responding to future public health emergencies with agility, efficiency, and success. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:41:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-837b05e9fb3b4db8b34ced5adfb180fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:41:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-837b05e9fb3b4db8b34ced5adfb180fb2024-04-07T11:12:56ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-04-0124111310.1186/s12913-024-10848-wWorkforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in GermanyLara C. Stroth0Franziska Jahns1Berit Bode2Maike Stender3Michelle Schmidt4Heiko Baschnegger5Nurith Epstein6Benedikt Sandmeyer7Carla Nau8Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Schleswig-HolsteinDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Schleswig-HolsteinDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Schleswig-HolsteinDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Schleswig-HolsteinDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital RWTH AachenInstitut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Universität München, LMU MünchenInstitute for Medical Education, University Hospital, LMU MunichInstitut für Notfallmedizin und Medizinmanagement (INM), Klinikum der Universität München, LMU MünchenDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Medical Centre Schleswig-HolsteinAbstract Background As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe at the beginning of 2020, healthcare systems were forced to rapidly adapt and expand to meet the sudden surge in demand for intensive care services. This study is the first systematic analysis of the strategies employed by German hospitals to recruit personnel and expand bed capacities during the first wave of the pandemic, and to evaluate the effectiveness of those recruitment measures. Methods 152 German hospitals with intensive care capacities were selected and invited to participate in an online-based retrospective survey. Factors like the geographic distribution, individual COVID burden and level of care were considered for inclusion in the sample. The data were analyzed descriptively. Results A total of 41 hospitals participated in the survey. The additional demand for intensive care beds was met primarily by activating intensive care beds that were previously considered as non-operational in existing intensive care units (81% of respondents) and by upgrading recovery rooms (73%). The physician staffing requirements were met at approximately 75%, while the nursing staffing requirements were only met by about 45%. Staffing needs were met through reallocations/transfers (85%), staff recruitment from parental leave or retirement (49%), increased hours worked by internal staff (49%), new staff hiring (44%) and increased use of temporary staff (32%). Staff reallocations/transfers to critical care within a hospital were rated as the most effective measure. In this context, specialized personnel mostly from anesthesiology departments were appointed to intensive care medicine. Conclusions Despite multiple recruitment efforts, the pandemic has exacerbated the nursing staff shortage. The reallocation of existing staff within hospitals was a key element in covering the staffing needs. However, additional measures and efforts are required in order to ensure that critically ill patients can be cared for without compromise. The results of this study may have important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers, offering an evidence-based foundation for responding to future public health emergencies with agility, efficiency, and success.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10848-wRecruitmentCOVID-19 pandemicICU staffICU-Response surveyIntensive care unit personnelStaff reallocation |
| spellingShingle | Lara C. Stroth Franziska Jahns Berit Bode Maike Stender Michelle Schmidt Heiko Baschnegger Nurith Epstein Benedikt Sandmeyer Carla Nau Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany BMC Health Services Research Recruitment COVID-19 pandemic ICU staff ICU-Response survey Intensive care unit personnel Staff reallocation |
| title | Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany |
| title_full | Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany |
| title_short | Workforce strategies during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in Germany |
| title_sort | workforce strategies during the first wave of the covid 19 pandemic a retrospective online survey at intensive care units in germany |
| topic | Recruitment COVID-19 pandemic ICU staff ICU-Response survey Intensive care unit personnel Staff reallocation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10848-w |
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