A “strike team” of medical professionals has arrived at Grand View Health of Bucks County, offering much-needed relief for its overworked, undermanned staff. Mallory Falk covered the reinforcement’s necessity, especially against an omicron-fueled caseload, for WHYY.

The additional hands — the first in the state — came from the Pa. Department of Health, which brought in medical professionals from New Jersey, Delaware, and even Texas. The move is designed to solve the twin problems of patient overcapacities and worker shortages.

“State strike team members — which include physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and respiratory therapists — will be providing short-term staffing assistance for 7–14 days,” said Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter. “The intent is that these staff will fill in for a limited time while hospitals develop their own longer-term, sustainable staffing solutions.”

Douglas Hughes, president and CEO of Grand View Health, said the reinforcements will ease the physical and emotional toll the pandemic has taken on employees.

“They held the hands of patients too sick to have a loved one at their side, comforted families throughout some of their darkest days,” said Hughes. “They weathered the storm throughout staff shortages, supply-chain issues, and the sheer physical and emotional exhaustion that comes with doing battle every day.”

The local Grand View Health request for additional assistance was the third received by the Pa. Department of Health.

More on the strike team assisting at Grand View Hospital is at WHYY.