50 National Guard members activated to help Utah LTC facilities, hospitals ease staffing shortages

The Utah National Guard’s COVID-19 Joint Task Force has activated approximately 50 service members statewide, according to Tuesday’s official statement from the National Guard. The move is meant to help battle the increase in COVID-19 cases from the omicron variant that has affected the Utah healthcare system and caused staff shortages in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

The Utah Department of Health requested additional support from the National Guard for affected facilities through the end of February. Members will attend a two-day training course coordinated by the health department through Avalon Healthcare Group so they can meet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements to provide nursing-aide-related services under the general supervision of a licensed nurse.

“We are proud to do our part to alleviate the burden of healthcare facilities affected by the rapid spread of the omicron variant,” Brig. Gen. Dar Craig, director of joint staff, said in a statement.

This is another step in which the National Guard has been activated to help in the current health crisis. Service members already had been administering vaccinations to civilians that are 70-years old or older. 

“Utah National Guard members have provided invaluable assistance to the UDOH during the pandemic across multiple mission areas,” Michelle Hofmann, MD, MPH, MHCDS, Utah Department of Health deputy director. “We appreciate their hard work and dedication.”

Utah is not alone in its need for outside help for healthcare workers. Long-term care and other providers in New York and Minnesota began receiving additional help in December from National Guard forces, to aid with severe staffing shortages amid worries about the omicron variant. Just this week, Gov. Brad Little (R) activated the Idaho National Guard for the fourth time during the pandemic to alleviate the effects of COVID-19 in that state.

As nationwide COVID-19 infections surge, more than 15,600 National Guard members are supporting state and local officials throughout the country, according to the U.S. Army.