Death managers, public health, and COVID-19: An exploratory study

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Zavattaro, Staci M.
• 署名单位: State University System of Florida; University of Central Florida; State University System of Florida; University of Central Florida
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.13655
• 发表日期: 2023
• 关键词: emergency management; medical examiners; coroners; preparedness; disasters; BURNOUT

摘要

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated cracks in the United States' healthcare systems-along with its deathcare systems. The pandemic as an ongoing mass fatality incident highlights the need to understand the public servants engaged in deathcare work, as they are a vital part of the emergency response equation. This exploratory, descriptive study focuses on the ways in which medical examiners and coroners (ME/Cs) in the United States provide core emergency management services to communities, relying on findings from interviews with 18 ME/Cs throughout the country. Findings indicate how COVID-19 cases are counted is difficult, the pandemic changed how ME/Cs operate in response, and burnout is eminent for these public servants.