Project COPE: Chronicling Healthcare Providers' Pandemic Experiences

There is a fair amount of data documenting the experiences of a variety of healthcare workers following major catastrophic events (i.e. 9/11 and Katrina) collected after the fact, but far less data have been collected from these individuals actively experiencing disasters. These perspectives are needed to help experts learn how best to provide the support for those whose professions will intersect with the public in potentially meaningful and tragic ways during future similar events. Additionally, with data from those who are deemed “non-essential” during the pandemic would allow us to determine potentially better ways to deploy them during a future event to support the public and the “essential” group. Following these groups longitudinally will allow for evaluation of changes in wellbeing (e.g. emotional, physical, financial) and willingness to stay in their chosen health profession. Systematically gathering data during the Covid-19 pandemic from healthcare providers from an interprofessional standpoint will allow for an examination of these providers experiences from two perspectives: 1) those healthcare providers who are locked in the healthcare system without any real ability to make changes (e.g. MD/DOs, RN, respiratory therapists, etc.) 2) and those locked out of the same system and being told they are not allowed to help (e.g. massage therapists, other integrative health providers, etc.). Results of this study will be used to report on healthcare providers’ experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://infoprojectcope.wixsite.com/website

Sponsoring Institutions:

UofSC SOM Greenville, Prisma Health-Upstate, Clemson University, Appalachian Regional Health System, Indiana University

Organizers and Collaborators:

Smitty Heavner-Sullivan, Rebecca Russ-Sellers, Thomas Britt, Marissa Shuffler Porter, Shannon Taylor, Sarah Griffin, Niki Munk, Molly A. Benedum, Chloe Wilson