ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — Alamance Regional Medical Center is getting assistance from the North Carolina National Guard. Starting Thursday, 25 guard members will perform clinical and administrative duties like answering phone calls, checking COVID-19 testing, and assisting patient check-ins.
"We train all the time for opportunities to serve our state in any capacity whether it be a natural disaster or something on this front. They all were overwhelmed by the opportunity to come and support their local area. Every single floor and every person that I have encountered on the staff side has just shown an incredible amount of appreciation for us being here," said Maj. Kyle Dietrich with the North Carolina National Guard.
Dietrich says this is the first time they've gone into a hospital to help staff members.
Emergency Room Nursing Director Greg Moyer says their assistance will be a huge help.
"We have areas of need for reassessing vital signs on patients. They will participate in that on a specific time frame. They can actually perform EKGs on patients that are coming in with significant heart problems. So, it's going to be very beneficial," said Moyer.
In January, Cone Health applied for additional help from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. State partners determined that Alamance Regional showed a need for assistance as the only hospital in a county with a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 cases.
"Our frontline workers have been working very hard. This provides some support and some aid to help them gather themselves and get some respite," Alamance Regional President Mark Gordon said.
While the recent surge in COVID cases created a need for additional staff for the long run, Gordon says they have been working to recruit.
"We are looking at ways to accommodate the needs of our community and the market in terms of what we can provide. Of course, we are also looking like everyone else in the nation to make sure we are paying a fair wage, a competitive wage for those employees, and also make sure we have a fantastic environment," said Gordon.
The National Guard will be at Alamance Regional through Friday, March 4. Guard members will work shifts around the clock, providing necessary relief as the pandemic continues.