A short report on an interprofessional mobilizer team: innovation and impact during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The response to a pandemic crisis requires strong preparedness and an action plan that is well defined yet flexible enough to address the uncertainties that accompany an infectious disease outbreak. Interprofessional collaboration is an integral component when implementing a robust and comprehensive response to such a crisis. As the needs of our academic medical center evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 Mobilizer Team used an interprofessional approach to respond to the diverse and complex needs of the organization. Team members included employees deployed from diverse departments such as Physical and Occupational Therapy, Nursing Education, Hospital Operations, and Advance Practice Providers. The team’s function transitioned from ensuring compliance with infection control policy and procedure and use of personal protective equipment to ensuring a two way channel of communication between front line staff and the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) concerning testing and isolation procedures, supplies, visitor restrictions, and staff wellness issues. The Mobilizer Team members became integral contributors to the HICS and provided members of our staff outside of the COVID-19 care units an opportunity to partner with colleagues from professions they may have never worked with and the chance to contribute to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

KEYWORDS:

• Incident command
• Covid-19
• pandemic
• response
• interprofessional collaboration
• mobilizer team

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janet Stifter

Dr. Janet Stifter is the Vice President of Perioperative and Interventional Services and Professional Nursing Practice at Rush University Medical Center. Janet's research experience includes examining the impact of nurse staffing on healthcare adverse events as well as usability research for complex technology.

Allison Terry

Allison Terry is the Lead Advanced Practice Provider for Orthopedics at Rush University Medical Center. In addition to practicing inpatient medicine, during the pandemic Allison was the Director of the Labor Pool Command Center.

Janice Phillips

Dr. Janice Phillips is the Director of Nursing Research and Health Equity at Rush University Medical Center and an Associate Professor in the Rush College of Nursing. Janice is an experienced researcher with interest in achieving health equity through advocacy and legislative action.

Mary Heitschmidt

Dr.  Mary Heitschmidt is the Director of Clinical Research at Rush University Medical Center and Rush Oak Park, Co-Director of the Center for Clinical Research and Scholarship, and Assistant Faculty at Rush University College of Nursing. Mary's research interests include family, chronic diseases, and quality of life.