NYAPRS Note: Here’re some excerpts of details about Governor Hochul’s contingency plans to in advance of deadlines for healthcare institutions to fire healthcare works who decline to get the COVID vaccine, taken from several news accounts and the Governor’s News Release. More tomorrow.
NY May Recruit Medical Workers from Other Counties To Replace Health Care Workers Who Refuse COVID Shots
By Jim Mulder Syracuse.com September 23, 2021
New York may recruit medical workers from the Philippines, other countries and states to replace unvaccinated staff at hospitals and nursing homes who face being fired if they don’t get Covid-19 vaccine shots by Monday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said today that’s one strategy her administration may pursue if New York sees a significant exodus of health care workers as a result of the Covid-19 vaccination mandate.
Under the mandate, health care workers must get at least one dose of the vaccine by Monday. If they don’t, the state won’t let them do their jobs, and hospitals and nursing homes can fire them.
State data shows 17% of nursing home and 16% of hospital workers remain unvaccinated.
Hospital and nursing home industry officials have warned the loss of unvaccinated workers could hurt the quality of care at their facilities. Many hospitals and nursing homes are already short staffed.
Hochul said New York is talking to federal officials about relaxing Visa requirements to make it easier for medical personnel the Philippines and other countries to come here to work.
New York also is considering changing its licensing requirements to make it easier for health care workers from other states to come here.
Hochul said New York would not be able to implement those strategies immediately….
“What is looming for Monday is completely avoidable. And there’s no excuses,” she said. “It would be phenomenally unfair to your coworkers, the people entrusted to your care and all of New Yorkers that we will have our recovery held back by individuals who choose not to get vaccinated.”
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In Preparation for Monday Vaccination Deadline, Governor Hochul Releases Comprehensive Plan to Address Preventable Health Care Staffing Shortage
Governor Hochul News Release September 25, 2021
In preparation for Monday’s vaccination deadline, Governor Kathy Hochul today released a comprehensive plan to address preventable staffing shortages in hospitals and other health care facilities statewide.
….The plan includes preparing to sign an executive order if necessary to declare a state of emergency that seeks to increase workforce supply and allow qualified health care professionals licensed in other states or countries, recent graduates, retired and formerly practicing health care professionals to practice in New York State.
The Department of Labor has issued guidance to clarify that workers who are terminated because of refusal to be vaccinated are not eligible for unemployment insurance absent a valid doctor-approved request for medical accommodation.
Other options include deployment of medically-trained National Guard members, and partnering with the federal government to deploy Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) to assist local health and medical systems.
Additionally, Governor Hochul plans to work with the federal government and other state leaders to explore ways to expedite visa requests for medical professionals.
As of September 22, 84% of all hospital employees in New York State were fully vaccinated. As of September 23, 81% of staff at all adult care facilities and 77% of all staff at nursing home facilities in New York State were fully vaccinated.
According to the regulation issued by the State Department of Health, all health care workers in New York State, at hospitals and nursing homes, are to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the first dose received by Monday, September 27, and staff at other covered entities including home care, hospice, and adult care facilities are to be vaccinated by October 7. The regulation also applies to all out of state and contract medical staff who practice in New York State.
“As nurses, we are committed to providing the best care for our patients and working with the Governor on these efforts. We need adequate staffing to protect our patients and our colleagues, and we want to do everything we can to avoid returning to crisis levels during the pandemic. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and for her bold and strategic plan to support nurses, patients, and ensuring the best possible care,” said Pat Kane, RN, Executive Director of New York State Nurses Association.
“UUP will continue to fight for adequate funding and staffing at the SUNY Hospitals and is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our members and their patients. We understand the step that Governor Hochul is taking in light of the potential staff shortage. We remain hopeful that this step will not be necessary. We continue to urgently call on all UUP members and all New Yorkers to get vaccinated immediately,” said Frederick E. Kowal, PH.D, President of United University Professions.
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New York Declares State of Emergency as Vaccine Mandate Chaos Looms
Daily Beast September 25, 2021
Both healthcare workers and teachers’ unions are engulfed in lawsuits challenging the vaccine mandates, with some believing the mandate infringes on their religious freedoms. A federal judge has blocked the mandate from affecting those seeking religious exemptions until at least Oct. 12. But for all others, the mandate is set to take effect Monday.