One of the side effects of the pandemic
One of the casualties of the strict restrictions of the pandemic was the slow unnoticed loss of connections within the Healthcare fields. As we hit the peak of restrictions there was minimal use of as needed Healthcare workers within the nursing home.
This was due to a combination of decreases in building census both from more people staying home with family as well as no voluntary surgeries being performed.
There was also the need for isolation rooms and hallways which meant less beds available. This drastically reduced the amount of Healthcare workers needed.
Decreasing availability of hours for therapy
For most of us that work in Therapy, we are held to a productivity standard. When there is lower census and less beds available, as well as less admissions from lower census in the hospital, the cascade is less working hours available.
This situation directly affected the need for any help beyond the regular staff members. It was hard to keep as needed therapists interested in staying with a company if we never need them.
Lost connections
With the decrease of as needed therapists, came the slow loss of connections. As a Director of Rehabilitation I need to keep in touch with many therapists. Although mostly through texting to find coverage for time off or needing updated personal information, there was still the connection.
As less therapists stayed on the list of available help, slowly the constant connections slowed down to a stop. As time marches on, slowly 1 month become 6 months then suddenly it is years since you had any contact with prior co-workers
These were not only co-workers but also friends. They were people that I had shared life experiences with as well as worked with at different times in my career in different buildings. And slowly they have disappeared into different directions in life.
Healthcare burnout
The slow decline in connections unfortunately was not only just lack of work. Healthcare burnout is a real phenomenon and have lost too many co-workers. This was not just a Therapy loss. This was and continues to be prevalent across different aspects of Healthcare. This is nurses, social workers, housekeeping, and office staff.
The pressure of the restrictions, the anger and disagreements of politics and philosophy, the loss of loved ones, and the loss of residents to COVID. All these factors slowly boil to the point of needing to get away.
Unfortunately some have left the nursing home to other aspects of Healthcare while some have left Healthcare completely. Hopefully we can build back what was lost through all of this. The need for caregivers has never been more prevalent.
