Nebraska Hospital Association Warns of Delay in Patient Discharges

The head of the Nebraska Hospital Association said they're reaching a crisis point because of a delay in inpatient discharges.

According to a survey, there have been more than 220 patients waiting more than a week to be transferred for five months in a row.

In January, 104 patients waited more than 30 days.

Health care officials said part of the issue is the closure of nursing facilities.

"The number of closures has significantly impacted us with, just truly, just tackle the same thing, the number of beds and then those nursing homes happening the ones that are left open taking other residents, and it's just a compounding issue," Melinda Kentfield, the vice president and chief nursing executive for Methodist Fremont Health, said.

Kentfield went on to say the nursing shortage is adding to the problem — she believes it'll get worse over the next year.

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