NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard increased its support to area hospitals across Tennessee over the weekend as they continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Aug. 22, at the request of the Tennessee Department of Health, an additional 72 Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard begun supporting hospital staff with medics and administrative personnel. The Guardsman can work in many types of hospital units and help with administrative tasks.
The medical centers receiving National Guard support are Baptist Hospital in Collierville, Baptist Hospital in Tipton, Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, and Morristown Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown.
Late last week, the Tennessee National Guard sent Guard members to Baptist Hospital in Memphis and Lafollette Healthcare in Campbell County to expand COVID-19 support.
The Tennessee National Guard has also provided personnel to Nashville’s Mid-Cumberland Regional Hospital Office to assist in the school call center.
Since March 2020, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard have been working with the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and other state and local agencies to combat the spread of COVID-19.
More than 580 Soldiers and Airmen are now assisting 58 counties in Tennessee with testing, vaccinations and administrative support to health care providers. The help enables civilian health care professionals to work more effectively and efficiently.
Thousands of Tennessee Guardsmen have volunteered to help during the pandemic. In the past 17 months, hundreds of Guard members have helped test more than 920,000 Tennesseans and vaccinated more than 1 million people across the state.