BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
Nursing homes face staffing shortages
APH ends COVID-19 case reporting More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Austin Public Health ended its close reporting on local cases in April but will keep up with high-level monitoring and pandemic preparedness efforts. Current situation Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County medical director and health authority, said the agency is now in more of a “flu surveillance posture” for keeping an eye on COVID-19. APH is not completely ending COVID-19 tracking, however. Walkes said officials will continue to watch more accurate data; keep up with wastewater surveillance, a newer monitoring method; and observe overall respiratory illness numbers logged with the Department of State Health Services.
Nursing home staff turnover
Total nursing staff turnover rate as of April 2024
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
National average
Nursing homes in Texas and across the U.S. face high staff turnover rates due to exhaustion, linger- ing effects of the pandemic and staff’s tendency to leave for other health care jobs, according to the American Health Care Association. The context In 2022, the median turnover rate for direct resi- dent care registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses in long-term care facilities was over 50%, an increase from previous years, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rates U.S. nursing homes based on their quality of care and staffing. Families for Better Care, an Austin citizen advocacy group dedicated to creating public awareness of nursing home conditions uses the ratings to compile state report cards. Texas received a grade of F and had the lowest ranking.
SOURCE: CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Looking ahead New rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aim to combat poor quality of care in nursing homes. It outlines minimum staffing requirements and increases the hours of care a nursing home patient receives daily. The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies recommends several plans for improving staff retention and recruitment, including pay increases and recruitment plan improvements.
Ouchhh! We’re here for babies, children & adults ... for urgent health needs year-round, like when you forget to put on sunscreen.
24/7 VIRTUAL URGENT CARE
Sign up at NormanMD.com
29
NORTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook