Georgia Hospitals Say Staffing Crunch Is Biggest Pandemic Challenge

Registered nurse Shelly Girardin wears personal protective equipment while performing rounds in a portion of Scotland County Hospital set up to isolate and treat COVID-19 patients Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, in Memphis, Mo. The tiny hospital in rural northeast Missouri is seeing an alarming increase in coronavirus cases.

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

The problems abound: Medical supply vendors are upping their prices, and there are occasional shortages of COVID-19 test equipment.

But Georgia hospital CEOs told Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday that their biggest challenge amid the pandemic is finding enough staff to treat people stricken by COVID and also take care of other patients.

There are ”not enough RNs out there,’’ said Don Avery, CEO of Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin.