Florida Hospital Association

In advance of the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers eye ways to bolster education and training programs for nurses and other health professionals to help alleviate industry-wide staffing woes.

Florida health officials say the number of COVID cases is continuing to trend down, but the president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association tells legislators that staffing concerns remain.

Nursing shortages were already a problem, but the COVID-19 pandemic and population growth are making things worse.

The Florida Hospital Association is sounding the alarm, saying a survey shows 68 hospitals have less than a 48-hour supply of oxygen

“Over the last six weeks, we’ve seen a rapid increase in the number of COVID hospitalizations now exceeding over 17,000 individuals currently hospitalized for COVID," said FHA President Mary Mayhew.

As Florida’s COVID-19 cases continue to reach record highs, one Miami family says they wished they’d been vaccinated after all three were hospitalized recently.

Number were released by the CDC and Florida Hospital Association. As of Tuesday afternoon, 11,515 people were in state hospitals with COVID-19, far exceeding last summer's peak.

Mary Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, says the delta variant is sending thousands of mostly unvaccinated patients into hospitals. Health workers are feeling the strain.

Hospitals need more staff at bedsides and to distribute vaccines and community partners to help, says Florida Hospital Association president and CEO Mary Mayhew.

Florida Hospital Association President Mary Mayhew and Florida Medical Association CEO Tim Stapleton encouraged health workers to share their experience receiving the coronavirus vaccine with others.