In the Global Epicenter: Social Work Leadership in a New York City Hospital

The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City was in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to transform from a tertiary to crisis care hospital and increase its bed capacity by 50 percent to care for COVID-19 patients. The size, scope, complexity and uncertainty of this crisis was unparalleled....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social work in health care 2021-01, Vol.60 (1), p.62-77
Main Authors: Xenakis, Nancy, Brosnan, Mary M., Burgos, Laudy, Childs, Jocelyn, Deschamps, Julia, Dobrof, Judith, Farquhar, Diane Weg, Genovesi, Maya L., Goldgraben, Kaitlin R., Gordon, Elisa, Hamilton, Christine, Koppel, Sarah R., Lipp, Murray N., Potter, Rachel, Rauch, Ann, Rodriguez, Victoria, Schubert, Elizabeth, Sollars, Emma D., Zilberfein, Felice
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communication
Cooperative Behavior
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
crisis management
Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration
health care innovation
Humans
Intensive Care Units - organization & administration
Interprofessional Relations
Leadership
New York City - epidemiology
Occupational Health
Palliative Care - organization & administration
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Social Work - organization & administration
Social Work Department, Hospital - organization & administration
social work leadership
social work practice
Vulnerable Populations
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Summary:The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City was in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to transform from a tertiary to crisis care hospital and increase its bed capacity by 50 percent to care for COVID-19 patients. The size, scope, complexity and uncertainty of this crisis was unparalleled. This article describes the comprehensive response of the Department of Social Work Services, one of the largest hospital social work departments in the country. The response was informed by four Departmental principles, as well as crisis intervention strategies. This article describes organizational structures, practice models, policies, and protocols developed to respond quickly and effectively, given infection prevention mandates, to patient, population and workforce needs. Finally, it includes how social workers addressed COVID-19 related physical and psychosocial needs and applied and modified interprofessional communication and collaboration. Lessons learned and clinical and administrative changes that will assist in navigating "new normal" operations are discussed.
ISSN:0098-1389
1541-034X
DOI:10.1080/00981389.2021.1885563