A number of factors are contributing to the urgent need for healthcare organizations to aggressively plan for potential surge capacity in their facilities during the coming months. 

A number of factors are contributing to the urgent need for healthcare
 organizations to aggressively plan for potential surge capacity in their
 facilities during the coming months. With the delta variant making its way
 through the U.S., the seven-day average of COVID-19 cases remains on an upward
 trajectory with 116,545 cases as of
 <a
 href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/covid-19-delta-variant-vaccine-2021-08-16"
 target="_blank"
 >August 16, 2021</a
 >. However, some
 <a
 href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-hospitals-delta-variant-covid-surge-20210816-htkjqte4ondyffktr3etlmlqpi-story.html"
 target="_blank"
 >experts</a
 >
 believe the peak of the delta surge will likely be in late September. With the
 delta variant to contend with, the country is also approaching flu season and
 the return of children to schools.



 These dynamics taken together mean a likely surge in patient census in the
 very near future, if not already.


<h2>Staffing Key to Surge Capacity Plans.</h2>


 According to the&nbsp;<a
 href="https://nam.edu/duty-to-plan-health-care-crisis-standards-of-care-and-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov-2/"
 target="_blank"
 >National Academy of Medicine</a
 >, staff shortages may be the primary challenge to implementing surge capacity
 plans, particularly in the midst of a pandemic. As healthcare facilities
 continue to prepare and plan for surge capacity, unmet gaps in healthcare
 personnel as well as the predicted need for staff based on the anticipated
 scope and spread of the disease will need to be met.



 Shifts will need to be balanced to avoid fatigue and burnout over the weeks or
 months of the surge while ensuring appropriate staffing levels. Nurse to
 patient ratios may need to be expanded or altered, just-in-time training may
 be required or allocating key personnel to the most pressing patient needs.



 As we stand side by side our valued healthcare customers in addressing
 potential patient surges, we are committed to helping you attain the staff you
 need to protect the care and health of patients and providers. This includes
 your potential need to consider broader and non-traditional staffing solutions
 to meet this unique situation.


<h2>Here in Your Time of Need.</h2>


 Cross Country Healthcare is a leading healthcare staffing firm and trusted
 partner to thousands of working healthcare professionals as well as health
 systems and hospitals nationwide. We are here to support your needs with the
 largest national footprint, including 65+ office locations across the U.S.



 As you look to meet the unique demands being placed on you due to COVID-19 and
 other disruptors, we can deliver physicians, nurses and advanced practitioners
 in any capacity &ndash; from travel, per diem, locums, local short-term
 contracts to permanent positions.



 Through our managed staffing programs, Cross Country Healthcare has
 approximately 300 aligned vendor partners nationally and locally. We are in
 constant, ongoing communications with them to gain commitments for candidate
 supply and prepare them for what is being projected for utilization.



 As a total talent solutions provider, we are contractually aligned with a
 crisis staffing supplier as our strategic rapid response partner. In
 partnership with them, we can support large-scale, time-sensitive deployments
 in times of crisis, and are able to deploy various volumes of healthcare
 providers, secure housing, and provide transportation.

Delta Variant: Support For Your Surge Capacity Planning