As the worldwide pandemic drags on, dragged along with it is an increasing toll on the mental health of those caring for us.
Frustration, anxiety, worry and burnout are weighing heavily on those who are on the frontlines caring for the public. From doctors and nurses to sanitation workers to grocery store employees and delivery people, the many that serve the masses are being subjected to stresses and strains they haven’t seen or felt before.
When it comes to the frontline healthcare professionals, we here at Frontline ER can speak directly to that impact.
“For the last 8 weeks at our locations, our staff has been experiencing stress levels somewhere between 7 and 10,” Laura Tschida said. “It’s only been in the last few days we’ve seen that number slack off to a 4.”
Ms. Tschida is Marketing Director for Frontline ER. She also reports that there are days her Dallas location fields upwards of 800 phone calls per day, mostly related to COVID-19 testing.
According to a recent release from HIMSS Media, 93% of healthcare workers are reporting experiencing stress. Anxiety, frustration, exhaustion and burnout and just being overwhelmed were reported by 75% to 86% of those surveyed. That doesn’t even include concerns for exposing their families to the virus.
Left untreated, these maladies can lead to more severe mental health conditions that could decimate our workforce and create issues with the well being of the broader population.
These are times of coming together (at a social distance) in understanding of what each of us is experiencing. While, as potential patients and in need of medical treatment and care, we feel your needs come first, it is important to remember that those serving us deserve and need our empathy. Organizations such as Frontline ER appreciate your needs and at the same time are very grateful for your understanding and support.
Frontline ER is an acute care emergency room providing healthcare services to the communities we live and work within. Give us a call or contact us through our website should you have more questions about our services.