Tackling the healthcare acquired condition (HAC) of workforce harm: Lessons learned from COVID-19

Leaders have a duty to ensure the safety and well-being of their most important asset, the workforce. Yet, while providing harm-free, quality care to patients across all settings, the healthcare workforce (HCW) experiences higher rates of occupational harm than do many industries, including those that are typically deemed dangerous. These longstanding and persistent harms are physical, psychological and emotional in nature and have broad consequences not only for the worker but also for patients, families, organisations and the healthcare industry. While attention and action by healthcare leaders to HCW harms has been gaining in recent years, the COVID-19 global pandemic has exponentially magnified workforce safety risks and implications, as well as the critical role and responsibilities of leaders to ensure that workforce safety is urgently and systematically addressed. This paper details the extent, nature and consequences of ‘healthcare acquired conditions’ to the workforce and, elaborates the added impact of the pandemic on harms experienced by the HCW and outlines the critical role and actions for leaders at all levels, in all healthcare settings, to improve the safety and well-being of the HCW. Specific illustrations of lessons learned and paths forward from one major healthcare system for preventing and addressing workforce harm and restoring well-being to the workforce are shared. Additional resources for healthcare leaders are highlighted and provide in-depth perspective on recommendations and tactics for creating a core value of unified safety, where both patients and those who care for them are free from harm and can thrive.