Two stories in the Eagle this week involved the dangers of being understaffed — and in both cases, they involved institutions of great importance.

In Friday's paper, hundreds of state health care workers — including 35 from Butler County — signed an open letter advocating for the passage of the Patient Safety Act.

The letter cited a hospital staffing crisis across the state, and called for the passage of the bill to establish standards in hospitals and promote transparency.

"When hospitals choose to understaff caregivers, patients suffer," the letter reads. "Unsafe staffing results in more infections, falls, re-admissions, failures to rescue, heart attacks, errors and deaths in hospitals as well as longer ER wait times and lengths of stay."

Health care experts have said that staffing shortages are common, but they told the Eagle last summer that the current situation in the region was a "crisis.“

Studies have found the average age of nurses has increased because as many retire, schools are left without a pipeline of younger teachers. A lack of faculty and budget constraints have resulted in thousands of applicants being turned away and, as a result, fewer nursing graduates joining the workforce.

A shortage of health care workers is never desirable. During a pandemic, it's particularly dangerous.

The Patient Safety Act would set nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals, and address retention and recruitment. One registered nurse said she's heard of ratios upwards of 10:1, which doesn't provide adequate time for a nurse to care for the patients’ needs during the course of a day.

We hope state legislators address this crisis immediately.

Meanwhile, the principal of Center Township Elementary School told the Butler Area school board Monday that a shortage of school personnel is affecting students. Transportation time is one of the biggest problems.

"Right now with the unmonitored bus situation, some of the kids are on the bus for over an hour in order to make it most efficient and have the least amount of buses," said Theresa Cherry, principal.

District superintendent Brian White said similar positions — especially personnel for school buses and cafeterias — need to be filled in numerous local school districts. He added there aren't enough people in the workforce to take the jobs.

This week, the Butler Area School District's website listed 15 open positions, from support to maintenance and custodial personnel.

In any year, there are numerous areas of importance vying for funding or attention from state legislators, but it's hard to find two more important than adequate staffing at health care facilities or schools.

We hope those in positions of influence at the county or state level will address these urgent issues.

— NCD