Michigan’s healthcare staffing crisis puts patients at risk

Throughout Michigan, healthcare organizations face a staffing crisis as nurses leave the profession while the government is considering implementing state-mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.

What does this mean for Michigan’s residents?

Why is there a nursing shortage?

Currently, there are approximately 8,500 job openings for nurses in Michigan. Furthermore, if the state mandates a staffing ratio, there will be a need for an additional 13,000 nurses for healthcare organizations to comply. However, there are several reasons why this is near impossible, including:

• An aging workforce is nearing retirement without enough new nurses entering the field to replace them.
• The Baby Boomer generation is getting older and requiring more medical care. This is leading to an increased need for healthcare services and putting an additional strain on an already overburdened system.
• Younger nurses are leaving the profession earlier than planned due to burnout caused by high patient loads and long hours.
• Lack of facilities and faculty to educate those looking to enter the profession.

Without proper staffing, healthcare organizations leave themselves vulnerable to malpractice lawsuits arising from professional negligence and substandard treatment, leading to patient injury.

Certain elements need to be proven for a successful medical malpractice suit in Michigan:

1. There must have been a duty of care between the patient and the healthcare provider;
2. The healthcare provider caused a breach of duty by failing to meet a standard of care that another healthcare professional would have provided in the same medical community under the same circumstances;
3. The patient suffered actual harm or injury;
4. The breach of duty was the direct cause of the injury.

Suppose you have been injured due to staffing shortages. In that case, it’s important to note that Michigan has additional requirements, including providing the healthcare professional a Notice of Intent to File Suit and an Affidavit of Merit from another provider. Therefore, it’s imperative you contact someone who can review your case and guide you through the process.