The aim of this study is to explore the challenges and drivers of building a responsive and resilient healthcare management at residential agedcare facilities experienced by service providers during the pandemic in Rockhampton Regional, Queensland, Australia.
An exploratory, qualitative method with thematic analysis was conducted along with triangulation with other studies and government reports. Primary data were collected through in-depth phone interviews with n = 20, residential agedcare facilities medical, support and pharmacy staff.
The findings from this study identified major pandemic-led challenges to deliver improved quality-of-care at residential agedcare facilities. The related supply chain pandemic-led challenges identified were staffing shortages, staff training requirements, effective communication, patient safety, infection control, and shortages of medicines, personal protective equipment, gloves, masks and medical devices.
Due to pandemic-related regulations, voluntary participation for the afterhours interviews with agedcare workers was limited, resulting in the sample size n = 20.
There is a need for more beneficial partnerships and preparedness in building a responsive and resilient healthcare in regional areas for agedcare facilities during natural disasters and public health emergencies.
This study contributes to giving priority in providing quality-of-care, by valuing vulnerable agedcare residents, their families and staff servicing the residents in regional areas during health emergencies.
This research contributes to the body of literature and is one of the first qualitative studies where agedcare service providers provided a fresh perspective on the challenging experiences faced in regional Queensland and a need for logistical preparedness for building a sustainable healthcare resilient services supply chain in regional areas.
