Funding will allow hospitals to obtain temporary staff to assist and alleviate stress on existing staff
Arizona is setting aside $60 million to address the staffing needs at healthcare facilities that deploy proven techniques to decrease COVID-19 related hospitalizations.
“Arizona’s health care professionals and all frontline workers are heroes, without a doubt,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “We are working to make sure they have the resources they need. This funding opportunity will decrease stress on existing hospital staff, increase hiring opportunities and decrease the risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Arizona. I’m grateful to all the nurses, doctors, first responders, frontline workers and everyone supporting and protecting our fellow Arizonans during this health emergency.”
This will affect hospitals that deploy proven techniques to decrease COVID-19 hospitalizations, including administering monoclonal antibody treatments and offering vaccination at discharge.
While COVID-19 hospitalizations represent a significantly lower proportion of hospital patients than in previous waves due largely to the deployment of vaccinations among the most vulnerable populations, hospitals are experiencing higher numbers of patients than normal.
Currently, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other health care providers are in high demand across the country and hiring costs for these needed professionals has increased dramatically.
The funding will help ensure that Arizona hospitals can obtain temporary staff to assist and alleviate stress on existing staff, according to the government.
Staffing has long been a problem at the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted this even more, according to a previous report. Recently, Nebraska also made some policy changes to help hospitals in the state address their staffing needs.
Feedback
The Arizona funding received positive feedback from a stakeholder.
“I am grateful for Governor Ducey's actions today to bring more health care workers to Arizona as we navigate through this latest surge,” said Linda Hunt, President and CEO of Dignity Health's Southwest Division. “This effort will help provide the relief desperately needed for our most valued resource — our staff. The Governor recognizes and supports the needs of our health care workforce. We will continue to work together to find long-term solutions that sufficiently invests in a sustainable health care workforce for Arizona."
However, there were also others who had questions about how the hiring process would go.
“Are they going to hire back the trained, experience staff they are kicking out [because] they won’t take the [COVID-19 vaccine] shot? I’m not impressed,” commented Richard Gaun, an experienced emergency services, security and communications planning and response professional, on LinkedIn.
“Hopefully the rehiring process have robust record keeping to weed those folks out,” replied Ken T., a senior engineering project manager at Collins Aerospace.
