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.
Good on Governor Murphy. Like Cuomo, this is what real leadership in a crisis looks like.
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.
Hey Gov. Murphy just send the fine back and attach the bills for your state purchased PPE.
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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.”
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.
The article did state non-clinical. I’m pretty sure if they can clean a latrine they can empty bedpans.
Wonderful. This is leadership.
Good, fair questions, but I presume they’ll help with lifting, moving, carrying things. And there are medical trained people in uniform.
Explain this to those “good Christians” who give only to their churches, but never to a food bank or soup kitchen. Ever had one tell you how they give to “deserving” people?
Oops. I missed the “non-clinical” part. Our facility is still clear, and still staffed, but since our regular volunteers are not allowed in the building people who could do the things they do, like ice water, would be useful. We are also keeping people in their rooms (a challenge all by itself) so meal tray passers would also help.
And our people are really lonely. Even with Activities arranging all the Zoom visits they can, and families coming to the windows, and outside visits with social distancing–a fence and caution tape–just having someone to talk to would be lovely for our patients.
Maybe it could work after all. I certainly hope so.
@gr
I’m glad Murphy did it, if only as an example to front-line medicos that they have the support.