Idaho National Guard joins Portneuf Medical Center to fight COVID-19

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - On Tuesday, employees and patients of PMC were greeted and screened by some new faces, and rather than scrubs, they were in uniform.

The Portneuf Medical Center is now receiving the assistance of the Idaho National Guard to help the local community fight COVID-19.

“We appreciate the support the Idaho National Guard will bring to our COVID-19 screening process,” Portneuf Medical Center CEO Jordan Herget said. “The specialized care required for COVID-19 patients has strained staffing and with the National Guard’s support, we can reallocate critical resources to providing patient care.”

The Idaho National Guard is playing a critical role in the screening process to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission within the building and is providing much-needed, temporary relief to frontline healthcare workers.