By Laura French
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. — A temporary rule change for EMS providers in a California county will allow them to work in nursing homes in order to help fill staffing shortages.
Los Angeles County EMS Medical Director Dr. Marianne Gauche-Hill told LAist that the change made by the agency permits paramedics and EMTs to administer medications at the facilities under the supervision of a nurse or doctor.
“A number of these EMTs are furloughed and can’t get a position right now, so this creates a unique opportunity for us to leverage that workforce to help out in COVID-related response,” Gauche-Hill said in the LAist interview.
About 2,000 EMS providers are being connected with nursing homes and other employers in the area, Gauche-Hill said.
Nearly 2,000 first responders and healthcare workers in the county have contracted the virus.