Active-Duty Military Helping MI Hospital With COVID Patient Surge

Three teams have been deployed to hospitals across the state of Michigan amid its fourth surge.

Michigan has a higher rate of hospitalizations for COVID patients than any other state, causing FEMA to request assistance from the Department of Defense. 

One hospital in Dearborn, MI now has a team of 23 active-duty service members helping hospital staff. The soldiers at Beaumont Hospital are one of three teams working across the state battling its fourth COVID surge.

The hospital's chief nursing officer, Mary Ellen Kochis-Rouillard, said they are glad to have the extra help, especially after losing many nurses to retirement. She said they have more than 600 COVID patients, of which 22% are vaccinated.