Governor McKee Provides Update on Emergency Medical Personnel Support for Rhode Island Hospitals Published on Thursday, January 13, 2022 PROVIDENCE, RI – The Governor’s Office has been in touch with FEMA Region 1 regarding the emergency medical personnel arriving in Rhode Island to support hospital staffing needs. To update our earlier announcement: A Department of Defense medical team consisting of 23 personnel will arrive as early as the end of next week to support Rhode Island Hospital in its Emergency Department and/or Medical/Surgical unit. They will be stationed there for 30 days. It will include a mix of doctors, nurses, medics, and support staff, appropriate to the COVID response requirements that Rhode Island Hospital has now. A National Disaster Medical System medical team consisting of 14 personnel will arrive as early as next week to support Kent Hospital in its Emergency Department and/or Medical/Surgical Unit. They will be stationed there for 14 days. It will include a mix of nurses, medics, and support staff, appropriate to the COVID response requirements that Kent Hospital has now. ###