ROCHESTER, N.Y. — If you find yourself at Strong Memorial Hospital over the next month, some of your treatment may just come from a member of the military.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Air Force Family and Aerospace Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Lt. Col. Allan Delgado, says, "We are honored to be here in support of Strong Memorial Hospital and the citizens it serves"
  • Lt. Col. Delgado is one of 40 members of two Department of Defense military medical teams bringing skills and expertise to support Strong Hospital
  • The military medical personnel will stay for 30 days and potentially longer depending on circumstances

“We are here to support FEMA at the request of the state of New York to assist the medical staff with the stress the latest surge COVID-19 has put on the health care system," said Lt. Col. Allan Delgado, a U.S. Air Force family and aerospace medicine nurse practitioner.

Delgado is now offering up his medical training and skills to Strong.

“I'm a family nurse practitioner and an aerospace medicine nurse practitioner by training. Right now, I’m kind of dual-headed as officer in charge,” said Lt. Col. Delgado. “So, you know, ensuring mission success while we're here, but as well using my training that I have here in whatever capacity Strong needs me to do to help with the patient population.”

The large patient population and shortage of staff are the reasons Lt. Col. Delgado and his team of 40 members of the United States Air Force are now at Strong.

“Your team's arrival couldn't have come at a better time,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Strong Memorial Hospital and University of Rochester Medical Center, Kathy Parrinello, Ph.D. “Our staff has worked and done a great job taking care of patients, but they're tired and your help has brought a real boost to everyone's morale.

“Over the next 30 days, the airmen, including Lt. Col. Alan Delgado, will become part of our family and work shoulder to shoulder with our teams taking care of patients.”

Two U.S. Department of Defense military medical teams arrived over the weekend from various military bases around the country. Lt. Col. Delgado comes all the way from Nevada.

“Our team consists of military physicians, nurses, medics, and respiratory therapists and the command support staff who bring with them an abundance of medical experience and knowledge,” said Lt. Col. Delgado. “Their expertise, coupled with that of the Strong Memorial Hospital staff, will help tackle the continued need for access to medical care within the local community by increasing hospital capacity.”

The military medical teams will support clinical operations.

“I've been currently involved in internal medicine clinic here and seeing the patients that are coming through working alongside the staff,” said Lt. Col. Delgado. “So the primary care setting.”

“There are three units in particular that they are spending time on and these are units where the needs were great and the staff shortages were the greatest," said Parrinello.

Those areas include medical-surgical, alternative level of care and other units in the hospital.

While the military is initially scheduled to be here for 30 days, that could change depending on the need.

“The duration of our support here will be determined as the situation evolves, but our team of highly qualified military medical professionals will remain committed to the mission as long as needed," said Lt. Col. Delgado.

“I want to thank you and your team for your service and your sacrifice," said Parrinello.

“Thank you so much for having us here,” said Lt. Col. Delgado. “We are honored to be here in support of Strong Memorial Hospital and the citizens it serves.”