STAFF ABSENTEEISM AND DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT WIKTOR DEGA ORTHOPEDIC AND REHABILITATION CLINICAL HOSPITAL IN POZNAŃ, POLAND
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to various interruptions in the implementation of healthcare services provided by hospitals. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the staff absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic at Wiktor Dega Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Clinical Hospital in Poznań as well as to present the standard of providing the healthcare services assigned to the Hospital under the contract with the National Health Fund. Material and methods Work attendance of more than 700 hospital employees at Wiktor Dega Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Clinical Hospital in Poznań was evaluated. The assessment of the number of medical services that were provided during the study time was based on monthly reports prepared for the national payer of health services. A retrospective analysis covered the period of JanuaryApril 2019 and January-April 2020. Results In the months of March and April 2020, a significant increase in staff absenteeism was reported. An evaluation of the relative values of the implementation rate of medical services for the months January-April of 2019 and 2020 showed that in April 2020, there was a substantial reduction (10%) in the implementation rate of medical services on orthopaedic wards, while on rehabilitation wards, the reduction in the implementation rate started in March 2020 and was also reported in April 2020 (6%). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in higher staff absenteeism rates in various professional groups working in our hospital. A reduction in the performance of healthcare procedures in our hospital, both orthopaedic and rehabilitation, will lead to a re-analysis of costs and will result in applying economizing mechanisms. Keywords:COVID-19, hospitals, health services, absenteeism, healthcare, hospital employees.