Table 5 Provider responses and themes regarding major impacts of COVID-19 on work
Theme | Provider responses | |
|---|---|---|
Patient/client and provider interactions | Technology | My caseload lives in a rural area so not all kids have access to internet or stable internet. |
Blocked cell number. | ||
No response. | ||
Lack technology. | ||
Developing and/or maintaining rapport | Not being able to build rapport with new clients—it’s difficult to introduce yourself via telephone or even video. | |
It is difficult to have longer appointments. | ||
It has been difficult to fully engage families as I have been able to before. | ||
I used to have very high guardian engagement, and for me, this has decreased. | ||
It has been very difficult to see my clients consistently. A lot of the people I work with are students, and unfortunately, some of the parents don’t hold their children accountable for doing video sessions. | ||
My clients’ participation has gone down tremendously. | ||
Communication | It is difficult for students to pay attention and they are easily distracted when I am trying to have sessions with them. | |
It is sometimes difficult to connect with the client or to judge their state of mind without the visual clues. | ||
Sessions are shorter. | ||
It has also been more enjoyable regarding relationships with clients. I think it may be due to the less formal atmosphere as clients are comfortable in their homes. | ||
Productivity expectations | Reduced productivity | My productivity has dropped because I have been having issues coordinating with some families. |
Less productivity hours. | ||
Loss of productivity, increased phone calls and chasing clients, helping clients download Zoom, Skype, etc. | ||
Increased demands | Increase in documentation required. | |
Increase pressure regarding productivity and revenue. | ||
More paperwork without receiving productivity for increased time spent. | ||
Work-life balance | General work-life balance | Lack of home life/work life balance, stressful, time management is difficult. |
My work-life balance has been disrupted. | ||
Working much later in the evening. | ||
Working at home with children | Working from home while taking care of my child makes it difficult to do my best work with clients. | |
It can be difficult to work from home with children. | ||