Department of HHS report on how the coronavirus pandemic battered U.S. hospitals >

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Wed, 2021-03-24 13:25 — mike kraft

A year fighting a global pandemic leaves US hospitals in shambles, new report finds Burned out medical staff suffering from trauma and in some cases PTSD, the erosion of public trust in hospitals, and frustration over the "unpredictable and insufficient" supply of vaccines are just some of the problems outlined in a new report on US hospitals released by the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general Wednesday. Kristen Holmes, CNN CNN

(CNN) Burned out medical staff suffering from trauma and in some cases PTSD, the erosion of public trust in hospitals, and frustration over the "unpredictable and insufficient" supply of vaccines are just some of the problems outlined in a new report on US hospitals released by the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general Wednesday.

"[Hospitals] reported challenges largely related to the ongoing intensity of having to deal with Covid for a year. That has them grappling with challenges that were brought with Covid, but also exacerbated longstanding challenges in healthcare delivery, staffing, financial stability," Ann Maxwell, assistant inspector general for evaluations and inspections, told CNN. "Then... you've got the added strain of the vaccination efforts, which are a new addition."

The report surveyed more than 300 hospitals across the country from February 22-26 on how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted them. It paints a dire picture of the toll a year of treating a global pandemic has taken on the America's health system and highlights the stress that operating in "survival mode" for such a lengthy period has caused those within it.

Hospitals reported that long hours, more shifts, time away from family and increased responsibilities caused by the pandemic left staff "exhausted, mentally fatigued, and sometimes experiencing possible PTSD." Some administrators pointed to the increased deaths, including among coworkers, and the fact that some staff were the only person present at the time of death due to pandemic restrictions as having a significant toll on many.

"Long-term solutions for staff fatigue, compassion fatigue, and possible PTSD will need to be identified so that we can help our staff be able to care for themselves, their families, and our patients," one administrator told HHS.

The challenges faced by medical staff have lead to a higher than normal turnover rate and created shortages that in some cases impacted the quality of patient care, according to the report.

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