Rapid Workforce Development to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience From a Tertiary Health Care Centre in North India

Introduction During a large-scale disease outbreak, one needs to respond to the situation quickly towards capacity building, by identifying areas that require training and planning a workable strategy and implementing it. There are limited studies focused on fast-track workforce creation under challenging circumstances that demand mandatory social distancing and discouragement of gatherings. This study was conducted to analyze the planning process and implementation of fast-track training during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and evaluate its effectiveness in building a rapid, skilled, and massive workforce. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate rapid preparedness training delivered from March to June 2020, based on documents and data regarding the process, planning, and implementation for large-scale capacity building. Pre-test and post-test scores were compared to assess the effectiveness of training. The number of personnel trained was evaluated to determine the efficiency of the training program. Data on COVID-19 among health care workers (HCWs) were analyzed. Results The Advanced Center of Continuous Professional Development acted as the central facility, quickly responding to the situation. A total of 327 training sessions were conducted, including 76 online sessions with 153 instructors. The capacity-building of 2,706 individuals (913 clinicians and 1,793 nurses, paramedics, and non-medical staff) was achieved through multiple parallel sessions on general precautionary measures and specialized skills within four months. The rate of hospital staff infected with COVID-19 was found to be 0.01% over five months. Conclusions A fast-track, efficient, large-scale workforce can be created through a central facility even under challenging circumstances which restrict gatherings and require physical distancing. A training action plan for disease outbreaks would be a useful resource to tackle such medical emergencies affecting substantial populations in future.