Washington Post: Administration to recommend National Guard as option to help hospitals report COVID-19 data

The Trump administration is poised to ask governors to consider sending in the National Guard to hospitals to help improve data collection about novel coronavirus patients, supplies and capacity, according to draft letters, internal emails and hospital sector officials familiar with the plans, the Washington Post reported late last night.

In a statement submitted to the Washington Post for the article, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “America’s hospitals and health systems and the Administration share the same goal, which is making sure data is shared consistently to help in the battle against COVID-19. Hospitals and health systems are working closely with the Administration to help facilitate the collection of this data while caring for our patients and communities on the front lines. Notwithstanding the fact, as we outlined in great detail to Dr. Birx, along with three other national hospital associations, changing requests on data and the format by which to submit have complicated matters. The vast majority of hospitals are already reporting data on a daily basis and we will continue to urge that to take place.  

“Given our track record of being cooperative to evolving data requests, it’s perplexing that the possibility of using the National Guard has been suggested. It makes no sense; certainly the expertise of the National Guard can be used in a more productive way.  

“Hospitals and health systems are focused like a laser beam on caring for our patients and communities during this pandemic.”