48. Crisis Standards of Care and How Front Line Healthcare Workers Have Lost Complete Control of Healthcare

Full Scope Human Longevity

Summary

Idaho entered a state wide crisis mode on Sept 16, 2021. Alaska has since followed. Many other state are also being hit hard. In this podcast, I discuss crisis care, leadership, and how front line healthcare workers have lost complete control of the healthcare industry.

Morbidity and Mortality

In September of 2021, approximately 700,000 people have died from COVID19 in the United States. Worldwide at least 4.5 million have died (likely more). I am not sure how many front line healthcare workers have left the job or been pushed out, but it seems like a lot!

Key Points

1. In crisis standards of healthcare, the focus shifts from taking care of individual patients to prioritizing care for a population of patients due to scarce resources and the need to prevent as much morbidity and mortality as possible.

2. At first, this can be fun and exciting as red tape disappears. However, when decisions have to be made about who receives care and who does not, the fun quickly fades away.

3. During times of crisis, communications lines must be increased greatly to facilitate effective operations.

4. Crisis represents an opportunity to view things through a new light as it forces us to understand the most important parts of what we do.

5. Additionally, crisis represents an unprecedented opportunity for training

6. Front line healthcare workers have lost complete control of our industry and this has contributed significantly to an unhealthy and unhappy workforce.

References

- Giroir and Kadlec. Rapid Expert Consultation on Crisis Standards of Care for the Covid19 Pandemic. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020.

- https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Crisis-Standards-of-Care-Plan_Final_Posted_Signed.pdf

- Personal Experience