Abstract
Facility managers in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities experienced new management dynamics during the outbreak of Covid-19. Their management competencies were truly tested, and they were not sufficiently prepared to deal with the extraordinary challenges brought about by this global pandemic. This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of facility managers on management dynamics in a primary healthcare service during the Covid-19 pandemic at Ekurhuleni health district. To develop recommendations on effectively dealing with the management dynamics in a primary healthcare service during the Covid-19 pandemic at Ekurhuleni Health District.
This study used a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual research design and a phenomenological approach. The target population was facility managers (N=28) managing PHC facilities in the Ekurhuleni east region for two years or longer. A purposive sampling method was used to select specific participants (N=14), and data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews. Data saturation was reached by the seventh interview, and two additional interviews were conducted to confirm data saturation. Data analysis was performed using Giorgi’s descriptive thematic phenomenological data analysis method. An independent coder was implored to confirm the findings. Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory guided this study.
Ethical considerations were applied throughout the research process, and trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical consideration focuses on autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice. Recommendations for the study were elicited from the exploration and description of facility managers’ experiences of new management dynamics in PHC services created by the Covid-19 pandemic in the Ekurhuleni health
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district. The results revealed four themes: Role conflict, Stretching of inadequate resources, Emotional turmoil, and Embracing the new normal. This study revealed that facility managers were stretched beyond their capacity and overwhelmed in managing PHC facilities due to the extended duties attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. Crisis management and limited resources created severe stress and anxiety in participants’ well-being.
Human resource management also created undesirable strain as workers were physically and psychologically challenged by the pandemic, being at the forefront of fighting against this deadly virus. Covid-19 decreased and compromised the quality of nursing care and patient safety, with compromised practical competencies and capabilities in PHC facilities operations. It resulted in poor performance on expected deliverables and increased patients’ dissatisfaction. Specific recommendations for the study were articulated to ensure PHC facility managers are empowered to deal effectively with pandemics. They are advised to devise strategies to swiftly adapt to the ‘new normal’ and ensure an improved material and human resources supply.
Keywords
Experiences, Facility managers, Management dynamics, Primary healthcare, Covid-19, and pandemic.