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Ballad Health's top nurse says non-clinical staff could assist during projected COVID hospitalization surge

By WJHL  
   August 05, 2021

Ballad Health announced COVID-19 hospitalization projections Wednesday morning that far exceed what they predicted just last week. Chief Nursing Executive Lisa Smithgall says the expected surge could be disastrous for a nursing staff already stretched thin. Smithgall said hospitals have already had to utilize individuals that have training, but don’t typically provide direct treatment to patients, including nursing unit leaders and clinical educators. But Ballad may soon be forced to use non-clinical workers in assistive scenarios as officials predict between 400 and 500 in-patients in the coming weeks.

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