WASHINGTON (Dec 5, 2022)— A long-standing health care worker shortage, burn-out and other factors has collided this winter with a surge in RSV, flu and COVID-19 cases. Hospitals around the nation are reporting they are experiencing nursing and bed shortages just as the holiday season kicks off.
The George Washington University has experts available to discuss hospital staffing shortages, the rising cases of infectious diseases and how to stay healthy during the holidays and beyond.
Patricia Pittman, director of the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity, can discuss how the current rise in cases has strained hospitals. She can also talk about healthcare workforce shortages, including a nursing shortage, that is impacting patient care.
Lynn R. Goldman, the Michael and Lori Milken Dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, is an expert on emergency public health preparedness and has deep knowledge of the intersection of policy and public health. She is also a pediatrician and can talk about the rising cases of RSV, COVID-19 and overwhelmed hospitals.
Leana Wen,, a visiting professor of health policy and management, is an expert on governmental response to public health crises. An emergency physician and formerly the Health Commissioner for the City of Baltimore, Wen can talk about the rise in RSV, flu COVID-19 and how families can stay safe this winter.
Amanda Castel, MD, MPH, a professor of epidemiology is an expert in infectious diseases and can talk about the rise in cases this season, vaccines and other preventive measures. She has served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spent over a decade working with local and state health departments and is board certified in both pediatrics and preventive medicine and public health.
Michael Knight, an assistant professor of medicine, can discuss how African Americans are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and how African American families can stay healthy this winter.
-GW-