Jesus Tiago S, Landry Michel D, Jacobs Karen
Global Health and Tropical Medicine and WHO Collaborating Center on Health Workforce Policy and Planning, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Boston University, MA, USA.
Work. 2020;67(1):37-46. doi: 10.3233/WOR-203250.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that emerged in late 2019, and later become a global pandemic, has unleashed an almost unprecedented global public health and economic crisis.
In this perspective, we examine the effects of COVID-19 and identify a likely 'new normal' in terms of challenges and opportunities within the fields of disability, telework, and rehabilitation.
We use a systems thinking lens informed by recent empirical evidence and peer-reviewed qualitative accounts regarding the pandemic to identify emerging challenges, and pinpoint opportunities related to health and changing employment infrastructure of people with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals.
From our interpretation, the key leverage points or opportunities include: (1) developing disability-inclusive public health responses and emergency preparedness; (2) enabling employment and telework opportunities for people with disabilities; (3) addressing the new requirements in rehabilitation service provision, including participating as essential team members in the care of people with infectious diseases such as COVID-19; (4) embracing the added emphasis on, and capacity for, telehealth; and (5) developing greater resilience, distance learning, and employability among the rehabilitation workforce.
The COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly challenging to the lives of people with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals; however, key challenges can be minimized and opportunities can be capitalized upon in order to 'build back better' after COVID-19.
2019年末出现的新型冠状病毒（COVID-19），后来演变成全球大流行，引发了一场几乎前所未有的全球公共卫生和经济危机。
从这个角度出发，我们研究了COVID-19的影响，并确定了在残疾、远程工作和康复领域的挑战与机遇方面可能出现的“新常态”。
我们运用系统思维视角，结合近期关于该大流行的实证证据和同行评审的定性描述，来识别新出现的挑战，并明确与残疾人士及康复专业人员的健康和不断变化的就业基础设施相关的机遇。
根据我们的解读，关键的杠杆点或机遇包括：（1）制定包容残疾人士的公共卫生应对措施和应急准备；（2）为残疾人士提供就业和远程工作机会；（3）满足康复服务提供方面的新要求，包括作为重要团队成员参与照顾COVID-19等传染病患者；（4）更加重视远程医疗并提升其能力；（5）增强康复工作队伍的适应能力、开展远程学习并提高其就业能力。
COVID-19大流行给残疾人士和康复专业人员的生活带来了越来越大的挑战；然而，可以将关键挑战降至最低，并利用机遇以便在COVID-19之后“更好地重建”。
