Before Fern made landfall, many health systems activated emergency command centers, arranged overnight accommodations for essential staff, and prepared contingency plans to maintain continuity of care.
As of January 26, more than 20 states from New Mexico to Maine reported snowfall exceeding a foot in some areas. While the heaviest snowfall has passed, over 85 million people remain under extreme cold warnings, with dangerously low temperatures expected to persist across central and eastern regions.
Hospitals and emergency departments remain open, but many outpatient services have been temporarily shut down, including:
Urgent care centers
Imaging services
Elective procedures
Outpatient clinics
These closures are placing additional strain on already overburdened healthcare systems.
Major Health Systems Shift to Telehealth and Emergency-Only Services
Across the storm’s path, hospitals are rescheduling nonurgent care and relying heavily on telemedicine to maintain access.
AdventHealth (North Carolina)
AdventHealth hospitals have stayed open, though some medical group offices and urgent care locations closed due to unsafe conditions. The system is offering free virtual visits for patients during the storm.
OhioHealth (Ohio)
OhioHealth canceled elective surgeries, outpatient imaging, infusion, radiation, and other outpatient services in counties under Level 3 snow emergencies. Urgent care facilities also closed, with telehealth being used to fill the gap.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Cincinnati Children’s rescheduled in-person outpatient appointments but continued telehealth visits. Patients were encouraged to use virtual urgent care, with neighborhood clinics expected to reopen later in the day.
Harris Health System (Texas)
Harris Health temporarily closed ambulatory clinics and suspended patient visitation, with services expected to resume on January 27.
Duke University Hospital (North Carolina)
Duke University Hospital reported a spike in emergency department visits related to storm injuries, including slips, falls, and frostbite.
Grady Health (Georgia)
Grady Health shut down outpatient clinics, neighborhood urgent care centers, pharmacy services, and radiology operations, while rescheduling elective and nonurgent procedures.
What Winter Storm Fern Reveals About the Healthcare Staffing Crisis
Severe weather events like Fern don’t just disrupt transportation they expose vulnerabilities in healthcare staffing.
When outpatient clinics close, emergency departments often see surges in patients. At the same time, staff shortages worsen because nurses and clinicians may be unable to travel safely.
This is why healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to international nurse hiring as a long-term workforce solution.
VisaMadeEZ: Helping Healthcare Organizations Hire International Nurses
At VisaMadeEZ, we specialize in helping healthcare employers address staffing shortages through proven immigration pathways, including:
EB-3 visa sponsorship for registered nurses
Schedule A healthcare immigration processing
Green card solutions for hospitals and healthcare systems
Immigration compliance support for nurse recruitment
By building a sustainable pipeline of qualified international nurses, healthcare organizations can remain prepared not only for seasonal storms, but also for ongoing workforce challenges.
Strengthening Your Workforce Before the Next Emergency
Winter storm Fern is a reminder that healthcare delivery depends on reliable staffing, even during unpredictable disruptions.
Hospitals that invest in proactive recruitment strategies such as sponsoring foreign-trained nurses are better positioned to maintain patient care access during crises.
If your organization is looking for a trusted partner in international nurse immigration, healthcare workforce sponsorship, or visa solutions for hospitals, VisaMadeEZ is here to help.
Contact VisaMadeEZ Today
Prepare your healthcare system for the future with a stable, qualified nursing workforce.
Reach out today to learn more about international nurse recruitment visas, green card sponsorship, and long-term staffing solutions.
