JHQ 325 Lessons Learned From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preparing for Emerging Threats-JHQ 325 Lessons Learned From the COVID19 Pandemic: Preparing for Emerging Threats

JHQ 325 Lessons Learned From the COVID19 Pandemic: Preparing for Emerging Threats

Pdf Summary

This study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic affected workforce well-being and perceived care quality in the U.S. Military Health System (MHS). A cross-sectional survey of 1,814 healthcare staff across four military hospitals measured burnout, job satisfaction, intent to leave, potentially preventable loss (PPL), pandemic preparedness, and staff-rated quality of care (QOC).<br /><br />Key findings showed moderate-to-high burnout across all roles. Nurse practitioners had the highest burnout, along with very high job dissatisfaction and a strong intent to leave, mostly for reasons linked to preventable organizational factors. The most common PPL reasons were dissatisfaction with the work environment and management. Case managers and care coordinators had the lowest burnout.<br /><br />Staff-rated QOC was strongly tied to workforce well-being: higher burnout, lower job satisfaction, intent to leave, and PPL were all associated with lower perceived quality of care. Greater preparedness was associated with higher QOC. Surprisingly, acute care staff reported higher preparedness than ambulatory staff.<br /><br />The study concluded that most staff turnover was not directly caused by COVID-19 itself, but by pre-existing system problems made worse by the pandemic, especially poor leadership and unhealthy work environments. The authors recommend that healthcare organizations strengthen leadership training, communication, shared governance, workload management, mentorship, and cross-training. They also emphasize that future preparedness efforts must include employee psychological well-being, not just supplies and protocols.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic

workforce well-being

Military Health System

burnout

job satisfaction

intent to leave

quality of care

pandemic preparedness

healthcare staff

leadership training