The healthcare system of Olathe Health is increasingly leveraging the expertise of contract professionals to plug workforce gaps caused by pandemic-induced retirements or job switching. While these contract professionals offer an immediate solution, they are not a cost-effective, long-term resolution to staffing shortages. Dr. Elizabeth Long, Olathe Health’s Chief Medical Officer, asserts the urgency of employing more permanent staff members. This is paramount as Olathe Health grapples with a surge in the number of its patients. As she sees it, a slight change is occurring where permanent positions are becoming more sought-after, which might alleviate the dependence on contracted help.
Nationwide, hospital admissions and deaths linked to COVID-19 have soared by 5% over the previous week. In Johnson and Jackson Counties, hospitalizations have risen by 86% and 42%, respectively, within a week. Even so, the total cases reported in this surge are significantly lower than in previous waves and the rate of escalation is slower. However, due to widespread at-home testing, many confirmed cases may be missing from official records.
Regrettably, the upswing in case numbers leads to more healthcare staff calling in sick, counteracting progress made in managing hospital staffing. Dr. Chakshu Gupta, Chief Medical Officer for Liberty Hospital, revealed that 25 employees tested positive for the virus this month. Local CMOs, including Gupta, maintain optional masking rules for patients and staff, except in particular circumstances where the risk of transmission is high.
Contributing to the fight against COVID-19, Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, highlights the application of the revised COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Jennifer Watts, the chief emergency management medical officer at Children’s Mercy, spotlights the potential deployment of a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine for children. Both interventions could potentially alleviate the current pressure on health systems like Olathe Health.
Source: https://www.kcur.org/health/2023-09-21/kansas-city-covid-19-coronavirus-spike-staff-nurse-doctor-hiring-vaccine-rsv