Maryland puts $25M toward pediatric staffing as respiratory virus surges

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The state of Maryland will be setting aside $25 million in state funding to hire and recruit pediatric intensive care unit staff. The funding is being made in response to a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with more than 500 RSV-related hospitalizations in Maryland since the start of October.

According to Governor Larry Hogan, RSV hospitalizations are increasing earlier and more rapidly than in previous years, with the 0-2 age group comprising 57% of hospitalizations. On Oct. 14, the Maryland Department of Health announced $80 million in additional funding for healthcare providers across the state.

Hospitals will receive $25 million and have been directed to utilize these resources to increase the hiring and recruitment of staff. For facilities with pediatric ICU and/or inpatient beds, awards should prioritize staffing those units appropriately before considering other non-pediatric units. 

All hospitals are also strongly urged to collaborate with neighboring hospitals on pediatric patient care coordination.

In addition, to help mitigate an increase in hospital admissions, particularly among children experiencing RSV, Rhinovirus, or Enterovirus D68, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems will expand its Critical Care Coordination Center capability to include pediatric surge operations. 

This is intended to optimize existing capacity, increase statewide capacity of pediatric ICU beds, and facilitate the transfer of pediatric patients to available beds in Maryland hospitals and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

WHAT’S THE IMPACT

The directive comes as states are preparing for winter, which is expected to bring an increase in respiratory ailments, including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu.

Earlier this month, state officials further expanded COVIDReady Maryland, the state’s long-term preparedness plan, by adding the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine booster shot for residents five years old and older. In addition, adults now have the option of receiving a Novavax monovalent booster if they have not previously received a booster, and if they cannot or will not receive mRNA vaccines.

To date, more than 710,000 Marylanders have received the COVID-19 bivalent booster, according to the governor’s office. With flu hospitalizations also increasing earlier and faster than in previous years, state health officials continue to encourage Marylanders to get their COVID-19 and flu shots simultaneously. 

Starting this week, state health officials will launch a new “Flooster” television, radio and social media ad campaign to amplify this message.

The state maintains a vaccination infrastructure of more than 900 providers. Some locations offer both COVID-19 and flu shots during the same visit.

THE LARGER TREND

There’s been a nursing shortage in the U.S. for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation even more dire. Nurses are retiring, leaving for new roles or abandoning the profession altogether, and there aren’t enough trainees in the academic system to make up for the expected shortfall. Nursing, it would seem, is in somewhat of a crisis.

That was highlighted recently in a survey issued by Wolters Kluwer Health and UKG, in which 92% of respondents predicted they would be short of their budgeted nurse headcount over the next 18 months. And 58% of health leaders said they don’t expect to bring in additional staff or new roles due to financial constraints.

Twitter: @JELagasse
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