Protecting Our Own: Equity for Employees as Hospitals Battle COVID-19.

Abstract

As medical providers garner praise during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, “nonclinical” health care workers remain largely overlooked. Although these essential workers face similar, if not greater, risks of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as others on the frontlines, many hospitals have fallen short in providing this vulnerable population with needed protections. Instead, hospitals should implement policies that guarantee all staff receive the information, equipment, and support necessary for battling the current crisis. This is critical not only for promoting the safety of these workers and their families, but also for ensuring the well-being of the community as a whole.