Joint Commission issues Sentinel Event Alert on healthcare workers in crisis

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission on February 2 issued the first in a series of special edition Sentinel Event Alerts that addresses concerns received from healthcare workers about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sentinal Event Alert 62: Health care workers in the midst of crisis” provides examples to help healthcare organizations respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future challenges that will require healthy and engaged healthcare workers.

To date, the Joint Commission says it’s Office of Quality and Patient Safety has received COVID-19- specific comments from more than 2,000 healthcare workers, patients, families, and government agencies.

Comments from healthcare workers relate to three main concerns:

• fear of the unknown
• fear of getting sick
• fear of bringing the virus home.

In addition, a C+R Research study done on behalf of the Joint Commission enterprise in December 2020 found staffing issues to be the greatest challenge faced by healthcare organizations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.