A case study of a collaborative allied health and nursing crisis response

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 required an equally rapid response from health-care organizations to find innovative ways to utilize the existing workforce to care for people with COVID-19. Using an evaluative case study, a unique insight into the collaborative allied health and nursing professions’ response to COVID-19 at a specialist cardiothoracic hospital in the United Kingdom is presented. The aim of the case study was to evaluate how an interprofessional workforce from the wider organization could be supported to work in critical care as part of a crisis response. In identifying the key enablers to setting up an interprofessional Essential Care Team and learning from the lived experiences of those involved, this case study has demonstrated that, in supported, interprofessional teams the wider organizational workforce can be facilitated to effectively and safely provide critical care services. The lessons learned from this study will support future pandemic responses and aid the identification of further opportunities for interprofessional learning and practice. Ultimately, the study highlights that by identifying and investing in the key enablers, health-care organizations can be better prepared to respond to a global crisis.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional Collaboration
• patient-Centered Practice
• team-Based Practice
• interprofessional Practice
• case Study
• co-operative Working

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all of the members of the ECT team and the bedside nurses that they have worked alongside. Your commitment and dedication to the COVID-19 response have been significant.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pippa Hales

Pippa Hales is the Head of Allied Health Professions at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, UK. Pippa continues to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist and is a Doctoral student with a  specific research interest in field of Allied Health Profession Leadership.

Anne White

Anne White is the Head of Nursing for Strategic and Corporate Projects at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, UK.

Allaina Eden

Allaina Eden is the Physiotherapy Service Lead at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, UK and specialses in the field of cardiothoracic critical care.

Rhys Hurst

Rhys Hurst is the Physiotherapy Clinical Lead for the Cambridge Centre for Lung infection at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, UK.

Siobhan Moore

Siobhan Moore is the Education Sister for the Critical Care Teaching Team at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, UK.

Cheryl Riotto

Cheryl Riotto is the Head of Nursing for Surgery, Transplant and Anaesthetics at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Uk. Cheryl has a particular interest in patient experience and quality and safety.

Nebil Achour

Dr Nebil Achour, Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. 19-year experience in disaster mitigation with particular focus on healthcare. Authored over 55 publications articles, books and special issues and awarded three international awards. Nebil is actively involved in national and international research and consultancy activities and interested in exchanging knowledge with academics and practitioners, specifically those working on similar topics. He is a WHO Advisor, co-developed the 2015 Hospital Safety Index, and contributed to building the resilience of hospitals in Libya, Turkey and many other countries.