Alabama hospitals still fighting low staffing amid an early flu and RSV season

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – State leaders inform WBRC that many Alabama hospitals are nonetheless understaffed and struggling. Now, many are working via an early flu and RSV season.

There are greater than 200 folks hospitalized with the flu throughout the state as of November 23, however state leaders fear that it’s certain to develop after the vacations whereas hospital staffing continues to be low.

“Staffing stays a significant problem for us,” Dr. Don Williamson with the Alabama Hospital Affiliation mentioned. “We actually are usually not again the place we have been earlier than Covid by way of staffing. Some hospitals nonetheless have areas of their hospital which are closed as a result of they merely don’t have sufficient workers.”

Alabama Hospital Affiliation President Dr. Don Williamson mentioned low staffing is inflicting lengthy wait occasions in ERs once they’re stuffed with flu and RSV sufferers proper now.

“It’s extra regarding maybe than traditional as a result of it’s occurring at a time that hospitalizations are prone to be rising due to respiratory diseases and transmissions throughout this season of the 12 months,” Williamson mentioned. “Anytime you will have an occasion that brings massive numbers of individuals collectively and you’ve got a number of viruses being transmitted locally, you might be prone to see a rise in virus transmission. Sadly, you’re doubtless going to see some temporal will increase in hospitalizations.”

Williamson mentioned that spike will doubtless pressure hospitals if it worsens.

“Although we don’t have excessive numbers of Covid, and we don’t have excessive numbers of influenza, we’ve actual challenges with staffing,” he mentioned. “Something that will increase the burden on hospitals goes to make the state of affairs extraordinarily worse.”

The Alabama Hospital Affiliation carried out a survey to see how a lot hospitals spent throughout Covid on bringing in new staffing and conserving workers. Williamson mentioned hospitals reported greater than 800 million {dollars} of un-reimbursed staffing bills.

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