Posted on Sep 21, 2023
Kansas City’s latest COVID spike is stretching resources at hospitals
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During the pandemic, a mass exodus of employees left the medical field. Hospital leaders say they're finally starting to fill open positions with permanent workers instead of contract employees, but higher COVID cases have sent many medical workers home sick.
At Olathe Health, staff continue to rely on contract workers to fill vital roles left vacant by employees who left the field or retired amid pandemic pressures.
While they meet hospitals' urgent needs, these contract workers are expensive, and not a permanent solution. That’s why Elizabeth Long, the chief medical officer for Olathe Health, said the hospital is excited more people are eager to fill permanent roles — a critical development as the hospital deals with record-high numbers of patients.
“Certainly, I think wanting to attract the best talent that we possibly can continues to be a problem but I do feel like the curve is bending a little bit on that as far as having employed instead of contracted help,” Long said.
Across the country, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 were up 5% this past week. In Johnson and Jackson Counties, the number of hospitalizations over the past week rose 86% and 42%, respectively.
At Olathe Health, staff continue to rely on contract workers to fill vital roles left vacant by employees who left the field or retired amid pandemic pressures.
While they meet hospitals' urgent needs, these contract workers are expensive, and not a permanent solution. That’s why Elizabeth Long, the chief medical officer for Olathe Health, said the hospital is excited more people are eager to fill permanent roles — a critical development as the hospital deals with record-high numbers of patients.
“Certainly, I think wanting to attract the best talent that we possibly can continues to be a problem but I do feel like the curve is bending a little bit on that as far as having employed instead of contracted help,” Long said.
Across the country, hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 were up 5% this past week. In Johnson and Jackson Counties, the number of hospitalizations over the past week rose 86% and 42%, respectively.
Kansas City’s latest COVID spike is stretching resources at hospitals
Posted from kcur.org
Kansas City
Medical
Health
Posted 7 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control for the University of Kansas Health System, said the recently approved, updated COVID-19 vaccine should also provide some relief. That said, the health system, like local health departments, doesn't have doses yet.
“We are still waiting here at the health system,” Hawkinson said. “Hopefully within the next 10 days or so — but commercial pharmacies, (the COVID-19 vaccine) should be available at most of those.”
On the CVS website, appointments in the Kansas City area are currently available and scheduling through October 4.
Jennifer Watts, chief emergency management medical officer at Children's Mercy, also touted the possibility of a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for kids. Currently, an RSV vaccine for those 60 years and older and one for pregnant women that protects a newborn infant are approved for use.
“That's who RSV typically affects and impacts the worst and is the most severe,” Watts said. "It will not be rolled out until everybody assures that it is safe and it is validated and tested, and we know that we can guarantee that we can recommend it to everybody.”
..."Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control for the University of Kansas Health System, said the recently approved, updated COVID-19 vaccine should also provide some relief. That said, the health system, like local health departments, doesn't have doses yet.
“We are still waiting here at the health system,” Hawkinson said. “Hopefully within the next 10 days or so — but commercial pharmacies, (the COVID-19 vaccine) should be available at most of those.”
On the CVS website, appointments in the Kansas City area are currently available and scheduling through October 4.
Jennifer Watts, chief emergency management medical officer at Children's Mercy, also touted the possibility of a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for kids. Currently, an RSV vaccine for those 60 years and older and one for pregnant women that protects a newborn infant are approved for use.
“That's who RSV typically affects and impacts the worst and is the most severe,” Watts said. "It will not be rolled out until everybody assures that it is safe and it is validated and tested, and we know that we can guarantee that we can recommend it to everybody.”
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