INDIANAPOLIS — FEMA provided an update Thursday on Navy personnel assisting at IU Health Methodist with the surge in COVID-19 patients.
A team of 20 U.S. Navy personnel began arriving in Indianapolis this week. The military doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists will serve 30-day deployments and be integrated into medical units in "areas of greatest need" within the hospital, according to IU Health in a statement Tuesday.
"IU Health leadership continues to meet with U.S. military leadership to navigate the operations plan and ensure optimal utilization of this support team. IU Health is grateful for this support and will share more information as it becomes available," a spokesperson said in an earlier statement.
Dr. Chris Weaver, IU Health's chief clinical officer, said the system is treating 551 COVID patients across all hospitals - the most it ever has at once. For context, that is enough patients to fill every bed at Methodist Hospital. The system is also recording around six COVID deaths per day.
Methodist Hospital itself is treating 137 patients for COVID-19, which is the most in the state. Weaver noted the strain the system is experiencing is not only due to treating COVID patients, but also patients with other illnesses, paired with a worker shortage. He said the employee shortage is not related to vaccine requirements the hospital system enacted.
However, IU Health did say between 350 and 360 team members across the state are out with COVID themselves or quarantining after being exposed. That number includes not just clinical roles, but all staff.
The Department of Defense has deployed military medical teams to hospitals in Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana and New Mexico as well.
The teams are made up of medical professionals in a variety of specialties, including critical care and respiratory care. Weaver said the Navy personnel is especially helpful with the critical care, whereas the National Guard, which previously deployed to 14 of the systems 16 hospitals, primarily help with non-clinical tasks.
The Navy has already started integrating into the hospital, but no specific date for when teams will start treating patients was given. Navy personnel will help wherever Methodist sees the most need - not necessarily just with COVID patients. While the deployment is set for 90 days, the team is prepared to help for as long FEMA and the Department of Defense determines there is a need.