Health & Fitness
McKee Signs Executive Order Aimed At Hospital Staffing Shortages
Under the order, retired doctors and nurses can return to work during the pandemic without forgoing their pension benefits.
PROVIDENCE, RI — As hospitalizations rise in Rhode Island and staffing shortages loom, Gov. Dan McKee took action this week to help make it easier for retired doctors and nurses to return to work.
On Thursday, McKee signed an order to allow retired doctors and nurses to come back to work without losing their pension benefits. The move comes as operations again ramp up at the state's overflow hospital site in Cranston, anticipating another hospital surge.
Hospitalizations are currently high in Rhode Island, though not only due to the pandemic. As of Thursday, 123 people in Rhode Island were hospitalized with COVID-19, just over 100 more than this time last month.
Find out what's happening in Cranstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
McKee said he hoped the order would make it easier to address staffing shortages in the state's hospitals, and allow some relief for overworked health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The initial order will remain in effect until Sept. 25.
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