THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: New measures

Photo by Nina Sparling

Rhode Island hospitals are experiencing major staffing challenges – just as the number of COVID-19 cases balloons statewide. McKee said at a news conference Thursday [December 30, 2021] that his administration is aware of the problem, and taking steps towards addressing staffing needs.

“Right now it’s not easy,” McKee said. “It’s a challenge.”

McKee said he’s been in contact with Rhode Island National Guard Adjutant General Chris Callahan about providing staffing support to hospitals in the state.

“His team is having follow up discussions directly with the hospitals to get from them the specific job categories that they need support with,” McKee said.

The governor signed an executive order last week [December 22] providing liability protection to hospitals across the state as they make adjustments in response to the COVID-19 crisis. According to the executive order, fear of potential litigation has further amplified staffing shortages.

The nurses union at Rhode Island Hospital said in a statement that the hospital “had no choice” but to make several changes to address the shortage, including expanding nurse-to-patient ratios, placing ICU patients in “non-traditional ICUs,” combining surgical and trauma units, and reassigning nurses to the parts of the hospital where the need is greatest.

“There simply isn’t enough staff to handle the amount of patients coming into the hospital,” Frank Sims, president of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals Local 5098, said in a news release.

Sims added, “We want to be abundantly clear about what these changes mean for the health and safety of all Rhode Islanders. It means the health care system in our state has reached a breaking point, forcing our biggest hospital to take drastic measures to try to meet the needs of Rhode Islanders in need of medical care.”

As of Thursday [December 30], 317 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Rhode Island, 44 of them in intensive care units.

Further complicating the staffing shortages, McKee said, is the financial pressure that traveling nurse companies can place on hospitals. Often, he said, they charge much higher hourly rates – and offer compelling bonuses for staff nurses to join their ranks.

The governor also announced the Rhode Island Convention Center will open as a mass testing and vaccination site in the new year. Some testing sites will also remain open on New Year’s Day.

“I would expect that we’re going to be making progress, immediate progress,” McKee said. “But that’s not to say that we haven’t stubbed the toe here a little bit on the testing.”

Demand for COVID-19 tests has skyrocketed in recent weeks, leaving many people waiting in long lines, often outside in the cold.

The Rhode Island Department of Health said earlier this week COVID-19 testing levels have reached an all-time high and encouraged people who are not required to get a PCR test to get a rapid test to help reduce delays in turnaround times for results.

The governor announced a contract with a New Jersey-based lab that is already processing tests. The state plans to add a third lab in the coming weeks.

The governor said a key strategy going forward will be working with several communities to set up rapid testing sites and vaccination clinics.

“While we’re testing more people daily than at any point during this pandemic, municipal leaders need to be part of the process to help the capacity issues,” Gov. McKee said.

Investigative producer Nina Sparling can be reached at NSparling@RIPR.org