Hospitals dealing with COVID-19 surges are looking to lessons from earlier hot spots such as New York to ensure they have adequate beds, staff and personal protective equipment (PPE). Although ICUs are full at Banner Health in Arizona, AONL member Charley Larsen, MSN, RN, senior director, told Fierce Healthcare, “Because we watched others do this we are prepared.” Larsen helped develop a statewide “surge line,” which is enabling hospitals across the state to balance patient loads so no single hospital becomes overwhelmed. To augment staff during the current surge, Arizona is borrowing the tactic of bringing in out-of-state emergency nurses, specifically those with COVID-19 experience. To ensure adequate access to PPE, health systems are also evaluating their supply chains and considering investing in supply chain technology. (Fierce Healthcare story, 7/27/20)
