Overloaded WA hospitals no longer struggling with COVID, face other issues affecting care

“Hospital officials and medical staff spoke to reporters Monday to give their sides of current working conditions in Washington state’s hospitals, and both groups are calling for legislation targeting two different issues resulting in the same problem: delayed care.

“While both agreed hospitals are overloaded, though no longer because of COVID-19, officials with the Washington State Hospital Association blame current regulations over transfer of patients who need to move into long-term care facilities, while three Washington health care unions blame critical staffing shortages that started before the pandemic and have now spun into a cycle of lost workers due to burnout, retirement or high-paying traveling nurse programs.”

Also ran in Bellingham Herald and Tri-City Herald.