The Covid-19 Pandemic has significantly affected healthcare workers and has led to a broader landscape of healthcare law as a result. The effects the pandemic had on healthcare workers includes psychological, physical, and professional impacts. Psychological stress was increased due to an increase in demands, exposure risk, and from the emotional toll seen from patient care. Many healthcare workers have experienced an increase in stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Physically healthcare providers are at a more significant risk for disease exposure and were excluded from certain benefits as ‘frontline’ workers in the case of extended paid time off because of staffing shortages. As a result of the pandemic the workforce dynamics have changed to include redirection of staff from original roles to areas where a higher need is seen, extended working hours, and all while remaining in compliance with evolving healthcare laws. Some of the most notable changes in healthcare laws as a result of the Pandemic include telehealth expansion, liability protections under the CARES Act, emergency use authorizations (EUAs), occupational safety regulations, and workplace support programs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) oversees the international health concerns, communicates closely with 196 countries to control disease outbreaks. The WHO communicates with national federal agencies in the United States to transfer pertinent health concerns of communities. The Public Services Act, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Defense Protection Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Authorization for Emergency Use, and the Social Security Act were key legal authorities during the pandemic. The emergency declarations as a result of the pandemic included the Public Health Emergency Declaration, 1135 Waiver of the Social Security Act, Public Health Emergency Determinants to Support and Emergency Authorization, and the Emergency Use Authorization. The Amendments to the Social Security Act during a pandemic include the Project Bioshield Act, Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP) of 2005, Pandemic and all Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) of 2006, Pandemic and all Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA) of 2013, Pandemic and all Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAIA), and section 201: Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State and Local Personnel During a Public Health Emergency.
As a dental hygienist the pandemic affected us greatly with being off from work for three months. Upon returning the requirements of the increased PPE created challenges with patient care, as well as the extreme heightened anxiety as a result of the pandemic on everyone. Because I was not considered a frontline worker, I was able to benefit from receiving unemployment while I was off work. Prior to Covid-19 we were already using EMRs so we did not see much of a change in the way we handle patient information, and we were not affected in the same way hospitals were. The thing I seen most was a decline in patients oral health, and because there is an oral-systemic link with oral health and ones general health, this led to an overall decrease in health. Many people had avoided going to the doctor and the dentist out of fear of contracting the virus. To this day we are still seeing patients who are getting “caught-up” after neglecting care as a result of Covid-19.