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Lee authorizes use of National Guard in hospitals, ambulances




Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Friday to allow the National Guard to work in hospitals and to drive ambulances, and increase the number of hospital beds, among other things.

Executive Order 68 will allow the National Guard to help address healthcare capacity strain. Members may conduct COVID-19 testing in healthcare settings, “perform authorized nursing and other functions in Facilities” and operate ambulances.

Main Street Media of Tennessee attempted to ask the governor’s office for additional details but did not receive an immediate response.

The executive order targets hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies that normally are restricted by the state in the number of beds they operate. The order temporarily suspends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-11-1607, so these facilities may “increase their number of licensed hospital beds at any location or temporarily establish hospital, nursing home, home-based, and diagnostic services at any location, if necessary for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.”

Certain licensed medical staffing positions will receive flexibility.

Also, ambulance services will receive flexibility for nonemergency transport.

“Level 3 transports may be staffed with one AEMT and Level 4 transports may be staffed with one EMT, provided that there is an ambulance operator in addition to the AEMT or EMT who satisfies the ambulance driver requirements of Tenn. Comp. R. & Reg. 1200-12-01-.10. All other statutes and rules regarding patient transport services remain in full force and effect.”

Nursing tasks may be delegated to certified medical assistants under the supervision of registered nurses, the order says.

“In order to ensure prompt administration of a COVID-19 vaccination and relieve the capacity strain on bedside care and support resulting from staffing shortages due to COVID-19, additional temporary regulatory flexibility measures are necessary to cope with the emergency. The provisions of Title 63 and related rules are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to authorize a registered nurse, licensed in Tennessee or working in Tennessee on a multi-state privilege to practice, to delegate to medical assistants certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants tasks that would normally be within the practical nurse scope of practice, including, but not limited to, administration of COVID-19 vaccinations, under the supervision of the registered nurse.”

And, behavioral health services will be able to operate with increased flexibility to cope with staffing services.

The order also encourages insurers to allow the increased use of telemedicine as well as hospital-level care in people’s homes.

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