Mary Mayhew

Groups representing nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and home health providers detail issues such as nurse and CNA shortages and a lack of nursing faculty and student slots at colleges.

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.

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.

The new Florida law exempts 40 types of health care facilities, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, physician offices and ambulance providers.

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

The association encourages Floridians not to delay elective surgeries, checkups, emergency room visits and health screenings due to COVID fears.