U.S. lacks methods to track health worker COVID-19 deaths: Report
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Consultants hired by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are exploring methods to better track and evaluate deaths and mental health consequences among health care workers due to COVID-19.
In a report released Thursday, the consultants zeroed in on health care worker deaths due to occupational exposure to the virus and deaths by suicide that could “reasonably be attributed to the fatigue, stress and burnout exacerbated by COVID-19.” These statistics are not tracked by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the report said.
“As with mortality due to COVID-19, there are currently no national systems or reporting standards for morbidity measures among (health care workers), including mental health status. The implementation of a national epidemiologic tracking program could help measure HCW well-being and psychological effects, and report on the outcomes of interventions, says the consultation,” the report states.
Also challenging is that some states do not report COVID-19 deaths by profession, while others only report data on health care workers in certain types of settings —for example, hospitals but not nursing homes. Further, it may not be possible to trace whether the health care worker contracted COVID-19 at work or in the community, the report said.
The report outlines a potential national framework for collecting, recording and reporting health care worker mortality and morbidity data associated with COVID-19. Measures could include collecting data on specific professions of the deceased and other relevant demographic data, the availability of personal protective equipment at individuals’ workplaces, and evidence that the infection was acquired at work, according to the report.
More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.
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