Name: Gov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitals
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Gov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitals

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AdvertisementState's partnering with Vizient to provide fill-in medical staffersGov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitalsState's partnering with Vizient to provide fill-in medical staffersHide TranscriptShow TranscriptMORE HOSPITAL STAFFERS FOR THE NEXT 12 WEEKS. REGISTERED NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANCE, WHEN FULLY DEPLOYED THIS WILL ADD NEARLY 600 TOTAL BEDS TO OUR STATEWIDE BED CAPACITY. MICHAEL: THAT PARTNERSHIP WILL BE WITH A COMPANY FROM DALLAS THAT PROVIDES FILLED IN MEDICAL STAFFERS, ACCORDING TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, 25 PERCENT OF MISSOURI’S 15,000 GENERAL HOSPITAL BEDS ARE AVAILABLE. THAT IS NOT COUNTING ICU BE THE PROBLEM IS, SO MANY MEDICAL STAFFERS ARE GETTING SICK WITH COVID, IT IS NOW TOUGH TO FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE AVAILABLE BEDS. STEVE HOEGAR OF THE MID AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE WATCHES THE HSPITALIT SITUATION IN THE METRO ALL THE TIME. HE EXPLAINS THE STAFFING SHORTAGE LIKE THIS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STAFF, ACROSS ALL OF THE HOSPITALS THAT ARE OUT SICK WITH COVID OR ARE AT HOME TAKING CARE OF KIDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE COVID. MICHAEL: OR MAY BE UNDER A QUARANTINE. &gt;&gt; EXTRA SKILLED CAREGIVAdvertisementGov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitalsState's partnering with Vizient to provide fill-in medical staffersMore help is on the way to Missouri hospitals. Overall, Missouri does not have a hospital bed shortage, it has a medical staffing shortage. The state is cutting a deal, bringing in about 760 more hospital staffers for the next 12 weeks."Registered nurses, respiratory therapists, certified nurse assistants. When fully deployed, this will add nearly 600 total beds to our statewide bed capacity," Gov. Mike Parson said.That partnership will be with a company called Vizient, which is a Dallas firm that, among other things, provides fill-in medical staffers.According to the Missouri Hospital Association, 25% of Missouri's 15,000 general hospital beds are available. That's not counting intensive care unit beds. The problem is that so many medical staffers are getting sick with COVID-19, it's now tough to find enough people to operate the available beds.Steve Hoeger of the Mid-America Regional Council Committee watches the hospital situation in the metro all the time."We have a number of staff, probably across all of the hospitals that are out sick with COVID, or are at home taking care of kids, or family members that have COVID," Hoeger said. Or they may be under a quarantine."These extra skilled caregivers are essential to addressing the staff shortages that are presenting a critical threat to hospital capacity here in Missouri," said Herb Kuhn, president of the Missouri Hospital Association.Parson said he does not know how much this is going to cost, but he said he is confident that the federal coronavirus relief bill money will cover it.At Truman Medical Centers and University Health, like many hospitals, staffing is low but manageable. They're doing their best."We are having more challenges on the night shift and occasionally on the weekends," said Dr. Mark Steele, the executive chief clinical officer for Truman Medical Centers and University Health.Missouri has about 170 hospitals. The firm the state hired will add up to 760 more nurses and medical staff."That's a relatively small number if you're spreading them out across the state, but every little bit helps," Steele said.Typically, ICU nurses treat about two patients. Floor nurses treat about five. Hospitals are concerned because after each holiday this year, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased."The most important thing is for people to avoid gatherings of any sort outside of their normal bubbles," Steele said.Health officials said people should wear masks, social distance and wash hands.When staff runs low there are only a few tools available: Pay overtime, increase the patient to nurse ratio or reduce scheduled operations."We obviously prefer to see people practice infection control," Steele said.More help is on the way to Missouri hospitals. Overall, Missouri does not have a hospital bed shortage, it has a medical staffing shortage. The state is cutting a deal, bringing in about 760 more hospital staffers for the next 12 weeks."Registered nurses, respiratory therapists, certified nurse assistants. When fully deployed, this will add nearly 600 total beds to our statewide bed capacity," Gov. Mike Parson said.AdvertisementThat partnership will be with a company called Vizient, which is a Dallas firm that, among other things, provides fill-in medical staffers.According to the Missouri Hospital Association, 25% of Missouri's 15,000 general hospital beds are available. That's not counting intensive care unit beds. The problem is that so many medical staffers are getting sick with COVID-19, it's now tough to find enough people to operate the available beds.Steve Hoeger of the Mid-America Regional Council Committee watches the hospital situation in the metro all the time."We have a number of staff, probably across all of the hospitals that are out sick with COVID, or are at home taking care of kids, or family members that have COVID," Hoeger said.Or they may be under a quarantine."These extra skilled caregivers are essential to addressing the staff shortages that are presenting a critical threat to hospital capacity here in Missouri," said Herb Kuhn, president of the Missouri Hospital Association.Parson said he does not know how much this is going to cost, but he said he is confident that the federal coronavirus relief bill money will cover it.At Truman Medical Centers and University Health, like many hospitals, staffing is low but manageable. They're doing their best."We are having more challenges on the night shift and occasionally on the weekends," said Dr. Mark Steele, the executive chief clinical officer for Truman Medical Centers and University Health.Missouri has about 170 hospitals. The firm the state hired will add up to 760 more nurses and medical staff."That's a relatively small number if you're spreading them out across the state, but every little bit helps," Steele said.Typically, ICU nurses treat about two patients. Floor nurses treat about five. Hospitals are concerned because after each holiday this year, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased."The most important thing is for people to avoid gatherings of any sort outside of their normal bubbles," Steele said.Health officials said people should wear masks, social distance and wash hands.When staff runs low there are only a few tools available: Pay overtime, increase the patient to nurse ratio or reduce scheduled operations."We obviously prefer to see people practice infection control," Steele said.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementState's partnering with Vizient to provide fill-in medical staffersGov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitalsState's partnering with Vizient to provide fill-in medical staffersHide TranscriptShow TranscriptMORE HOSPITAL STAFFERS FOR THE NEXT 12 WEEKS. REGISTERED NURSES, RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANCE, WHEN FULLY DEPLOYED THIS WILL ADD NEARLY 600 TOTAL BEDS TO OUR STATEWIDE BED CAPACITY. MICHAEL: THAT PARTNERSHIP WILL BE WITH A COMPANY FROM DALLAS THAT PROVIDES FILLED IN MEDICAL STAFFERS, ACCORDING TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, 25 PERCENT OF...

Gov. Parson announces more help on way for Missouri hospitals

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