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Major Michigan health care system looking overseas for nurses

A major Michigan heath care provider says it is looking overseas for hundreds of nurses.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2020, file photo, Physician assistant Steven Oginsky, top, and registered nurse Kim Alder work inside the Hackley Community Care COVID-19 triage room at 2700 Baker Street in Muskegon Heights, Mich. U.S. hospitals slammed with COVID-19 patients are trying to lure nurses and doctors out of retirement and recruiting nursing students and new graduates who have yet to earn their licenses. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File)

DETROIT — A major Michigan heath care provider says it is looking overseas for hundreds of nurses.

Henry Ford Health System is working on a plan to bring nurses to southeastern Michigan, especially from The Philippines.

Chief executive Wright Lassiter III talked about hospital labor challenges at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island.

Henry Ford Health last week said it had dropped 120 beds from five hospitals due to staffing shortages. Beaumont Health said it was idling 5% of its beds.

Lassiter says some hospital workers are simply worn out after more than a year of COVID-19 patients.

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