New Jersey is sending dozens of national guardsmen to staff long-term health care facilities around the state, which have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said Thursday that 120 guardsmen would perform non-clinical duties at the facilities, including janitorial duty, cooking, logistics and nurses aide work.
“The heroic front-line staffs at these facilities need some extra helping hands,” Murphy said at a press conference, adding that nurses and aides in the facilities needed “back up — some relief from the bullpen.”
In April, the state sent 75 medics from the New Jersey Army National Guard to veteran homes to make up for staffing shortages.
Nursing homes have been severely impacted by the novel coronavirus. Of New Jersey’s 8,801 total recorded deaths of COVID-19, 4,556 were reported by long-term care facilities, according to state data Friday.
State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said 22 guardsmen would be deployed to Andover Subacute and Rehab Center II, Politico reported — the same facility where police found 17 bodies last month in a morgue meant to hold just four.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fined the Andover facility $220,000 on Thursday after an inspection discovered several violations including poor infection control practices.
Good on Governor Murphy. Like Cuomo, this is what real leadership in a crisis looks like.
Hey Gov. Murphy just send the fine back and attach the bills for your state purchased PPE.
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Good step Gov., but would it not make even more sense to send in some National Guard medical corpsmen/women who are actually trained to take care of patients?
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Question from a CNA here. What are these people actually going to do to help? Actual patient care? It’s harder than it looks.
Has licencing been suspended for the duration? It can be done–Holcomb has instituted Personal Care Attendants for the duration here in Indiana. Even that requires a week’s training, but no certification exam.
I’m just picturing a bunch of wannabe-helpful blunderers dropping people and feeding them so quickly they choke, and adding to staff strain as they try to supervise. Not to mention posting to social media–which is a HIPPA violation.
I suppose they could clean things.
I’m seeing this as well-intentioned, but probably not all that helpful.
I would love to be wrong.