GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The surgeon general of the U.S. Navy paid a visit to Bellin Memorial Hospital Friday morning to check on operations following the Navy’s deployment late last month.
Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham toured the hospital and met with facility leaders and members of the naval contingent who have been supporting the hospital.
“We were honored to welcome Rear Admiral Gillingham for a firsthand look at the difference the Navy is making for the patients, providers and staff at Bellin Hospital,” Bellin Health President & CEO Chris Woleske said in a news release. “The Navy’s support has allowed us to serve more patients during this time of high hospital volumes, and we are incredibly grateful for everything this amazing team has done.”
Twenty-three members of the Navy arrived at the hospital on Dec. 28 to assist with continued high volumes of patients with COVID-19 and other demands on the hospital and health system. The team will remain at the hospital through the end of February.
“The Department of Defense’s most important mission is to defend the homeland, and in this case, our enemy is the coronavirus,” Gillingham said in the release. “Navy Medicine is honored to link arms with our colleagues at Bellin Health to assist with patient care and support our fellow healthcare workers. Our Sailors deployed to Green Bay have been on the front lines of the COVID battle before. They bring a wealth of experiences and lessons learned to ensure the best care possible. By working together as medical professionals, we will save lives, make a positive difference, and help defeat this persistent adversary.”
Members of the Wisconsin National Guard are also being trained to be certified nursing assistants to assist hospital and nursing homes experiencing staffing shortages.
