Qualitative analysis of the organisational response of a university hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis. Issue 2 (14th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harkouk, Hakim; Castel, Patrick; Hervouët, Lucile; Fletcher, Dominique
• Is Part Of: BMJ open quality. Volume 11:Issue 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-14
• Subjects: Management -- Crisis management -- Leadership; Medical care -- Quality control -- Periodicals; 362.106805
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001817
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-6641

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has required urgent organisational and managerial adaptation, with hospital medical and administrative leaders under considerable pressure. Methods: At a single French university hospital, we performed a sociological analysis of management adaptation by medical and administrative leaders during the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis. Two sociologists performed interviews with representative members of staff from all the structures involved in managing the crisis to analyse adaptation and the solutions found during this period. Results: The answers collected during interviews were classified into three main topics describing the organisational adaptations of the hospital staff during the COVID-19 crisis: (1) exceptional mobilisation and collaboration; (2) crisis management based primarily on the principle of subsidiarity; and (3) survival of the administrative structure with interventions to support caregivers. Conclusion: This study, focusing on a single hospital, identified a number of factors associated with successful mobilisation in the very specific conditions of this viral pandemic.