The need for innovation in deathcare leadership

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint essay is to examine deathcare leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommend innovations to employ a more human-centric approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint essay uses scholarly and popular literature to explore deathcare practices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to identify limitations of existing mass fatality management policies.

Findings

Deathcare leadership in the USA lacks a human-centric approach. Rationalistic mass fatality management during COVID-19 left families struggling with grief and mourning because many burial rituals could not take place. This essay suggests a humanistic approach to death management through leadership innovations as a remedy to this problem. Such leadership innovations can improve responses to deathcare during this ongoing pandemic and future public health emergencies.

Originality/value

This essay offers practical improvements to make deathcare more human-centric.

Citation

Entress, R.M., Tyler, J., Zavattaro, S.M. and Sadiq, A.-A. (2021), "The need for innovation in deathcare leadership", International Journal of Public Leadership, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 54-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-07-2020-0068