'It Is A Soul Exhaustion': Hospital Systems Grapple With Staffing Shortage As Flu Season Draws Near

Arlington TX

06 October, 2021

8:03 PM

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By Alexis Allison, Fort Worth Report October 6, 2021 It had already been a long week for the emergency room at Cook Children's when Dr. Corwin Warmink, medical director of emergency services, spoke to a Zoom gallery of journalists in early September. Every year in his 18 years at Cook Children's, he said, his team expects a "bump" in visitors when school starts — around 300 children a day. But that Monday, two days before this virtual press conference, there were more than 600. About half of those were kids with COVID-19 illnesses or concerns. "We run one of the biggest, baddest, busiest ER in the country at 300 (visitors)," he said. "And we'd go up to 400 and even 500 in the past, but at 600, we're physically unable to care for kids in a timely fashion." He was tired and angry. He urged parents to get vaccinated, wear masks and require the same of their kids. As he wrapped up, his voice caught. "I get paid — and everything in my training and career — was to not freak out," he said. "But I'm freaking out." To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.