Phoenix — As the number of COVID cases continues to grow, so does the burden on hospitals, healthcare professionals, and laboratory supplies.
With more cases, hospital beds are declining and Dignity Health is undergoing unprecedented changes. We have announced a “serious staff crisis” and are changing that policy.
ABC15 learned on Saturday that Dignity Health sent an email to hospital staff in St. Joseph explaining the new policy:
“Improved, mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-positive staff do not require quarantine, but must wear an N95 mask for up to 10 days of positive symptoms or testing. Is supported by the CDC. “
“I don’t know what to do now,” said a St. Joseph health care worker who wanted to remain anonymous.
The healthcare professional tells ABC15 that this new policy goes against everything taught during this pandemic.
“These patients are the poorest, the most ill, and the most at risk. It’s exactly what’s happening for healthcare professionals who are in direct contact with these people to get their cough back … the company you really work for. I don’t leave you trust in, “they added.
However, Dignity Health says it has enacted a “third layer” of CDC guidelines for healthcare professionals with COVID due to the rapid spread of Omicron in Maricopa County.
The Dignity Health statement provided to ABC15 on Saturday is:
“Due to the prevalence and impact of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Maricopa County, and in anticipation of its continued growth, the Maricopa County Dignity Health Facility has established the third layer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. COVID-19-positive healthcare professionals. These guidelines allow COVID-19-positive healthcare professionals who are improving with asymptomatic or mild symptoms to work without a quarantine period.
We do everything we can to ensure that our employees can safely return to work while protecting patients and staff from COVID-19 infections. The safety of our staff and patients has always been our number one priority. And I am deeply grateful to the dedicated care team for their tireless efforts to take care of our community during the pandemic.
Our healthcare professionals and hospitals need more community support than ever before. The best way for the public to support staff and make hospital resources available to those in need most is to follow the COVID-19 Public Health Mitigation Protocol and vaccinate and add as soon as qualified. Is to get a vaccine. “
ABC15’s Health Insider Dr. Shad Marvasti believes this situation could be avoided.
“Remember why the hospital is here. Why were these difficult decisions made? This was not inevitable. This could be prevented. This was a failed policy. The result. This situation really brought despair to the hospital, “he added.
The test site is also feeling the impact of the new variant.
Demand for companies like Embry Health continues to skyrocket.
“In fact, it’s a lot worse than I had imagined. Yesterday alone, patients across Arizona had planned for more than 42,000 COVID-19 tests. The previous record for the schedule was 32,000.” Raymond Embry, CEO of Embry Health, said.
This causes a temporary shortage of rapid test kits at some sites.
“Everyone is scrambling as quickly as possible so that we can continue to meet this need,” Embury said.
With this increase, Dignity Health has changed its policy, but frontline workers are worried that the change could infect themselves and vulnerable patients with the virus.
“I think they’ll soon face a staffing crisis because so many employees die from what they’ve told us, or we’re just sick of it,” St. Joseph’s medical care. Workers added.
