RADM Gillingham meets with leaders, medical team as support deployment continues
U.S. Navy Surgeon General Rear Admiral Bruce L. Gillingham visited Bellin Memorial Hospital Friday morning, Jan. 28, touring the facility and meeting with hospital leaders and members of the naval contingent that began supporting the hospital in late December.
A 23-person team from the Navy arrived Dec. 28 to assist with continued high hospital volumes due to COVID-19 and overall demands on the hospital and health system. The assistance also has allowed Bellin to increase capacity and reduce the number of diversions and refused transfers from within Wisconsin. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced an extension for the Navy team, which will remain at Bellin through the end of February.
“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,” said Bellin Health President & CEO Chris Woleske. “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.”
Added Gillingham:
“The Department of Defense’s most important mission is to defend the homeland, and in this case, our enemy is the coronavirus. 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.”