PA To Aid Hospitals Overwhelmed By COVID-19 Omicron Surge

HARRISBURG, PA — Responding to the surge in COVID-19 omicron variant cases, Pennsylvania will establish regional support sites for hospitals and long-term care facilities and strike teams to aid hospitals facing staffing shortages.

The support sites will assist hospitals and long-term care facilities facing a lack of beds or staffing to meet patient needs. Those hospitals will be able to transfer patients to hospitals within the regional sites. Each site will have increased capacity for up to 60 days starting next month and will have a support staff composed of physicians, respiratory therapists and nurses.

Previously announced federal government strike teams will assist the state's highest-need areas and initially be deployed in the York and Scranton areas. State staffing support for other areas will include medical personnel for deployments over the next three months.

“While these efforts will relieve current strains on the healthcare system, we hope every Pennsylvanian will continue doing their part so that care is available when their loved ones need it,” acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said in a statement.

“With targeted healthcare staffing support and communities rallied in support by wearing masks, getting vaccinated with boosters, and staying home when sick, we will come out of this with fewer losses. "

The moves, announced Friday, come as the number of people hospitalized across the state increased by 22 percent over the previous week in the week ending Jan. 2. The percent of available adult ICU beds fell to 16 percent, while available pediatric ICU beds fell to 11 percent.

The support sites and strike teams are being coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. State officials plan to ask FEMA to reimburse Pennsylvania for the statewide initiatives.

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