Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Houston Hospital Offers $500 To Employees Who Get Vaccine
The Hill: Hospital Offering Employees Money In Exchange For Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
One of Houston's largest hospitals is offering a $500 bonus to employees who receive a vaccine for COVID-19. The reporting of the bonus comes as health systems around the country have reported difficulties convincing health care workers to get vaccinated before their patients. (Bowden, 1/14)
KHN: Geography Is Destiny: Dentists’ Access To Covid Shots Depends On Where They Live
Dr. Monte Junker, an Oregon dentist, is waiting for his turn to get vaccinated for covid even though he considers himself a front-line health worker. “If they offered it to me today, I would be there,” he said. In December, just before the first vaccines were cleared for emergency use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization advisory board recommended that health care workers — as well as nursing home residents and staff members — be the first to be inoculated because of their high risks of infection. (Galewitz, 1/15)
The Washington Post: Coronavirus Is Driving These Nurses To Quit
After five years, Kami Cayce worked her last shift as a nurse in September. For the 27-year-old Texan, the decision to leave seemed inevitable after a tumultuous year turned upside down by the coronavirus. After initial stay-at-home orders, Cayce’s workplace, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, resumed non-emergency and elective surgeries at rates even higher than before covid-19. Cayce says her workload increased dramatically while concerns about coronavirus were still top of mind. “Nurses were forced to work above capacity while understaffed. Because of the increased volume of surgeries, patients would sometimes wait for a room for up to 10 hours after surgery,” said Cayce, a post-operation recovery nurse. (Youn, 1/14)
KQED: Exhausted Health Care Workers Feel Betrayed By Those Who Ignore COVID Rules
The crush of COVID-19 patients from post-holiday surges continues to overwhelm California hospitals. The state passed a grim milestone this week, with more than 31,000 people dead from the virus. The state recorded an average of more than 500 deaths over the past seven days. In the Bay Area, Santa Clara County has run out of morgue space, and three 65-foot trailers have been brought in to house the deceased; the county may soon activate a “mass fatality plan.” Besides patients and their families, no one is feeling the pain of this catastrophe more than health care workers. The onslaught has exhausted them, but many also use the word "betrayed" to describe their feelings toward the public, and they have grown angry at people for skirting safety rules because they know much of the suffering is avoidable. (McClurg, 1/14)
