About face: regional allied health professional early adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Meredith Castle A D , Rowan O’Hagan B , Erin Anderberg C , Amanda Wangman A , Helen Harrington A and Lakshmi Dhakal AA Northeast Health, Subacute Services, Green Street, Wangaratta, Vic. 3677, Australia.
B Northeast Health, Education and Research Unit, Green Street, Wangaratta, Vic. 3677, Australia.
C Gateway Health, Rural Health Team, 45–47 MacKay Street, Wangaratta, Vic. 3677, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: meredithc@dynamicrehabsolutions.com.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(2) 110-116 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY21150
Submitted: 4 July 2021 Accepted: 21 December 2021 Published: 15 February 2022
Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2022 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic has led to significant change in allied health practice in Australia. Measures to slow virus spread have included replacing face-to-face services with telehealth services, and hands-on practice with socially distanced intervention. In the present mixed-methods, cross-sectional study, 51 allied health professionals across two public health services in regional Victoria, Australia, completed an online questionnaire with open and closed questions. The aim was to explore their experience in adapting to directed practice change during the first wave of the pandemic. The clinicians reported low levels of clinical satisfaction due to a perceived reduction in service quality and accessibility. Directed use of telehealth significantly contributed to dissatisfaction, with challenges including infrastructure, clinician and patient digital literacy and platform suitability for some patient groups and interventions. In contrast, peer support, timely and accurate communication, decision transparency, recognition and strong leadership from management supported adaptation, as did individuals’ flexibility and learning. Our findings highlight the leadership qualities and support strategies conducive to workplace adaptation during a crisis period. They also support calls for further resource development to support skill translation for telehealth platform use and initiatives to increase digital literacy and infrastructure availability in regional Australia.
Keywords: adaptation, allied health occupations, clinical satisfaction, COVID-19, delivery of health care, innovation, organisation, rural health, telehealth.
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