COVID Public Health Emergency Ends, But For E.R.’s There’s Still No “New Normal”

Hospital emergency rooms saw some of the most painful scenes of the pandemic: beds filled to capacity, nurses and doctors risking sickness themselves, and patients dying without their loved ones.

Today, ERs are still living with the consequences of the pandemic. They face staffing challenges, patients who delayed care and arrive sicker, and the lingering emotional strain.

We visit an emergency room at a hospital outside Baltimore to hear how this moment looks to the doctors and nurses who work there.

In participating regions, you’ll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what’s going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.