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ESEPSY 1359 Executive Summary

Bryce Newsome

Prof. Oaks

ESEPSY 1359

7/21/20

COVID-19 has a disproportionate mental health effect on teleworkers who are under strict security regulations such as HIPAA than workers who are working from home otherwise. While working from home aka telework can be beneficial in some formatting but due to the stressors of having to balance family life and privacy this is not the case. You are also taking away individuals coping methods of dealing with work related stressors that each individual human normally takes in modern America. This shows that in conclusion there is no reason to believe that COVID-19 is in fact raising these mental health problems. It can be shown in studies across America that the numbers of depressed Americans is increasing but if we acknowledge that all these other factors can multiply this effect then it is fact that it effects medical field teleworkers disproportionately.

ESEPSY 1359 – Rough Draft

Bryce Newsome

Prof. Oaks

ESEPSY 1359

7-20-2020

I’ve theorized that due to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and HIPAA regulations teleworkers specifically teleworkers within the medical field deal with specific mental health struggles and burdens. The over arching regulations from Hyppa and COVID-19 have made it hard for Tele workers to balance family and medical security. COVID-19 already puts an extreme amount of stressors on normal people. The added weight of trying to balance security and home life and while worrying about your health and the health of your family can have potential side effects. This goes for not only workers in the medical field but all teleworkers Forced to have to balance Family, safety, and security of their work.

This in part is due to the already enormous stressors put upon the medical field to maintain security of information. Security of sensitive and possibly harmful knowledge is crucial in all fields but never more than within the medical field due to the infringement on individuals rights. Which granted is necessary in the field due to the sensitivity of potential information. There is already evidence to support that high regulations and consequences of said regulations can negatively impact the mental health of employees.

The counter argument could be made that the stressors of the medical field are already so enormous that COVID-19 in no particular format substantially increases these. Based on many studiesover the years we have learned that the medical environment amongst all employees rather on the front lines or not have extreme levels of responsibility. If we are to acknowledge COVID-19 as a possible stressor that drastically increases the effect of negative mental health then we have to consider all aspects of major viruses and other infringements on capabilities to decompress the mind after facing extreme environments of human pain and grief.

Within understanding the counter argument we have to acknowledge prior indoctrination and training to said factors of mental stress and other impacts. Within training all medical personnel have been fully prepared to face these environments. What they are not prepared for is the medical field to have an overarching effect on life outside of their work. No human So we defined by their actions at work but they are multifaceted emotional spiritual and family oriented beings. Taking away the access to all of these due to the regulations of security within the medical field and with another security fields can harmfully effect capabilities to cope. Therefore the argument that the stressors had already existed in the same format is not a good argument. At core we have never ever as Americans had our abilities to recreationally spiritually and emotionally deal with every day issues infringed upon like COVID-19 has caused. This is extremely backed by evidence of mass surveys and scientists who have theorized that isolationism can lead to bad traits of coping. Also there are first-hand stats that link COVID-19 and its affects and what we have had to do to stop the spread to the increase of depression and suicide attempts.

We can say that these surveys may be too broad and that there is not enough time to say that Covid-19 is the main factor of increase in suicide attempts. We can also state that humans as a whole have always had bad coping mechanisms to change. If we acknowledge this we can say that in some format COVID-19 is no different than any other virus that affects Americans on a major level. The only difference some counter arguers may say is that on a global scale COVID-19 receive more attention to two with transmit ability unlike some other well-known viruses such as swine flu and Ebola. For the first time America has been challenged to not see a large overarching threat as a cause that doesn’t affect us but a reality that we have to live now. This privilege may have allowed a level of complacency rather than pure mental effects from isolationism due to Covid.

My argument to this would be though that we cannot without a definitive conclusion say that isolationism does not affect your mental health of humans. There is evidence to believe he does such as the use of said isolationism within the prison systems as punishment. Taking this into account we now know that even minor social interaction Leads to better cognitive health. In conclusion I have found based on my evidence that COVID-19 does affect tell Rick her specifically those forced to have to work from home and be very mindful of the regulations imposed on them. Those regulations infringe On individuals ability to act normally in day to day life. Whether that be around her family and not allowing them around them or whether that be in certain precautions they had to be taken with inside the household that would normally not be taken in certain illuminations of coping mechanisms and therapies.

 

ESEPSY- 1359 Outline

Bryce Newsome

Prof. Oaks

ESEPSY 1359

07-20-2020

Outline

I. Thesis Statement

II. Context & Argument 1

III. Counter Argument

IV. Addressing Counter Argument

V. Argument 2 & Evidence

VI. Counter Argument to Evidence

VII. Addressing Argument to Evidence

VIII. Conclusion

 

ESEPSY Expert Questions (Penni Warren)

Questions with Penni Warren (Medical Field Coder) on pandemic effects on health of teleworkers in the medical field.

 

What is the title of your profession?

 

– ”I am certified medical coder, also referred to as a professional coder.”

 

In short words what are the duties or main tasks of a medical coder?

 

– “In my profession we check over all medical coding from doctors and providers before it is sent to insurance companies.”

 

How long have you been in this profession? What companies have you worked for?

 

– “35 years and Upper Valley Family Care, Kettering Health Network.”

 

How long have you been teleworking during the Covid-19?

 

– “I would say I started teleworking around Mid-March, so about 4 months.

 

How would you describe the stress level in your field before the pandemic?

 

– ”I’d say its a moderate stress level, the job itself is constantly changing and health codes are always being added and modified.”

 

 

Has their been any complications with family that has effected your ability to properly complete your work?

 

– “No, there has not I have done everything I can to lessen this burden also at this age all my kids have moved out.”

 

Do you believe that your company you work under in the medical field places security measures that are a burden to its workers and not overall beneficial?

 

– “No, I believe they take the proper steps to insure security of patient confidentiality.”

 

Other than work do you believe your mental health has been effected by COVID-19?

 

– “Not very much, but over my years I’ve properly adapted to using methods to benefit my mental health. I have been burdened by the politicizing of the pandemic and its seriousness.”

 

How has your family adjusted to you teleworking?

 

– “They weren’t able to move through the house properly if I was working due to HIPAA. We are not allowed to have someone in the same room as us teleworking.”

 

How have you coped with your mental health during this pandemic?

 

– “I’ve used art as my stress reliever I’ve began to paint rocks and I also have found other small hobbies.”

 

Would you continue to work remotely if possible after the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer and imminent threat to America? Why?

 

– “Yes, the reason is because many of my coworkers will be teleworking. And I believe if I’m isolated I can be isolated from home.”

 

Do you believe that teleworkers those within the medical field are negatively effected by HIPAA regulations during Covid?

 

– “No, but the difference is that COVID has put a burden on all workers but most of us in the medical field are prepared for such inconvenience.”

 

Are you thankful that you have had the ability to work safely from home? Regardless of negative impacts on mental health?

 

-“Yes, because the risk of getting COVID is much more pressing.”

 

After all these questions do you have any further comments on the pandemic in the medical field and specifically the medical administration field?

 

– “Nothing other than I wish people would understand that this pandemic is not a hoax. And even in my small town I am seeing the diagnosis show up more and more.”