The past year has presented stresses on all of us, but none more than healthcare workers who have been on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and all other healthcare professionals have seen some of the ugliness that this virus has had up close and personal. It has been a harrowing time for them.
While the Governor opened up the ability for essential workers to apply for Connecticut workers’ compensation after contracting the virus while on the job, there is much work to be done for healthcare providers who are facing serious mental health challenges as a result of their work to protect all of us from the virus.
After the suicide death of a physician in Virginia who had been working on the front lines to battle COVID-19 in New York City at the early peak, lawmakers are now looking at ways to protect those in the healthcare industry from self-harm and suicide. A new law introduced federally would provide mental health supports for health care workers as well as safety education about burnout and suicide prevention in the field.
The type of workplace safety training that is needed now in the healthcare field is not something that was considered before the pandemic but is currently severely needed. Doctors and nurses are facing death every single day to many patients who, in many cases, are dying alone. Along with that, these healthcare providers are also facing the possible death of colleagues and friends who are succumbing to the virus.
While many in the healthcare field have been vaccinated, the threat of death and disease still weighs heavily on their daily work environment. This type of safety training in the workplace is essential to keep these essential workers on the job while also maintaining their own mental and physical well-being.
Nurses and doctors who are facing these trying circumstances and have suffered due to them may be eligible to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but every circumstance is different. If you believe you have a claim, contact our office and one of our board certified attorneys will help review your claim.
