Portland, Maine – The health care leaders across the state are saying that the situation at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services is unacceptable with it reporting 13 public health nurse positions that are currently vacant.
According to Dr. Dorra Ann Mills on a report by David Charn, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services nurses are the ground troops in the state to quickly respond to health issues that arise whether they are pandemic or a regular old flu that needs to be treated. Mills was the Maine CDC Head for more than 15 years and is currently holding the position as University of England’s Vice President for Clinical Affairs.
Still as stated by Mills, the tasks of nurses in urgent care clinics include responding to emerging crisis and running flu treatment for the members of the society who need urgent care from fatal illnesses.
Spokesperson of the Department of Health in Maine John Martins said that there are already 46 nurses added on staff and mentioned that there are some positions left vacant until next summer as decided by the Legislature.
Martins also said that the Department of Health are continuously filling empty slots and examining opportunities to offer health services that would result to measurable health for the people of the state.
On Wednesday, there were 12 of out 13 vacant slots listed on the website the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. There’s one vacancy in Calais, one in Augusta, two in Caribou, one in Rockland, one in Machias and four in Lewiston.
The union representing public health nurses, Maine State Employees Association, has been critical about the report of vacant nurse positions in the state. According to the group’s spokesperson, an urgent care clinic or hospital nurse is the front-liner of the state that provides help in preventing infectious diseases and regulating everything from tuberculosis to hepatitis and other diseases. The group challenges the Le Page administration to act right away and fill the vacant slots the soonest possible time for the people to not have to wait long to get help when going to an urgent care near me.
Mills recalled that during the time when she was the Maine CDC Head, 400 employees had turnover but noted the number of vacancies.
When asked of WMTW News 8 whether the 13 vacancies are helping the Department of Health and Human Services save money, the enquiry was left unanswered until today.
