Syracuse, N.Y. – The New York National Guard is sending 120 of its medical personnel to help out at short-staffed nursing homes across the state, including Loretto in Syracuse.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the deployment Monday. She said the National Guard medical teams will help out at facilities “where the need for additional resources has been identified.”
The state Health Department is coordinating the deployment of the guard members who are emergency medical technicians.
“We are prepared to provide that support as long as the state and the department of health deem it necessary,” said Col. Richard Goldenberg, a New York National Guard spokesman. “If it takes through the winter we are prepared to do so.”
Nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities across the state are struggling with a severe shortage of nurses and other health care workers. The shortage has been compounded in part by the state’s health care worker Covid-19 vaccination mandate. The mandate prompted thousands of health care workers who refused the shot to be fired or quit their jobs.
Many nursing homes are so short-staffed they have stopped accepting hospital patients ready to be discharged. Hospitals in turn often don’t have enough staffed beds for new patients. Many hospitals are expected to stop elective surgeries to free up beds under a state order that takes effect Friday.
Loretto expects 18 National Guard members to arrive over the next week. Loretto’s 583-bed nursing home at 700 E. Brighton Ave. is the largest in Onondaga County.
The National Guard members will be trained as certified nurse aides to provide daily care. The extra staff will allow Loretto to open additional beds for short-term rehabilitation so it can accept more patients from hospitals, said Julie Sheedy, Loretto’s chief marketing and engagement officer.
A year ago, Loretto opened the region’s only Covid-19 dedicated facility that freed up hospital beds by caring for over 300 patients from 10 surrounding counties.
“We have been working with nursing homes across the state to identify where these medical teams will have the most impact on regional health systems,” said Jeffrey Hammond, a state health department spokesman.
Eight other nursing homes selected by the state to get help from the National Guard include:
- MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Oneida County;
- Clinton County Nursing Home, Plattsburgh;
- Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Broome County;
- Monroe Community Hospital, Monroe County;
- Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Albany County;
- A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility, Nassau County;
- The Pines Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Cattaraugus County; and
- Terrace View Long Term Care Facility, Erie County.
Hammond said more nursing homes may be added to the list.
The services provided by National Guard personnel will vary from facility to facility.
“They will take in our personnel and put them to the best possible use to fit their needs,” Goldenberg said.
James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com