National survey of patient safety experiences in hospital medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced major changes to usual hospital care. This study of hospital medicine clinicians sought to understand individual and organizational responses to error reporting and communication, staffing, equipment, PPE and isolation practices, and infrastructure. More than half of respondents reported caring for more and/or sicker patients than usual, and a shortage of staff, equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Qualitative responses suggest these factors had a negative impact on COVID patients, non-COVID patients, and staff.