Schumer and Hochul asking FEMA for help amid healthcare staffing crisis

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Sen. Maj. Leader Chuck Schumer was at Strong Memorial Hospital to hear concerns about staffing.

News10NBC has covered the issue extensively.

Hospitals simply can’t find enough people to help relieve some of the pressure, and Schumer says that’s why he and Gov. Kathy Hochul have reached out to FEMA to see if it can change a policy that only allows federal crisis medical teams to be dispatched to public hospitals.

"Rochester is known as an area that has had great quality health care and it’s because of the dedication of the doctors and the nurses and the technicians and the clerical people they do a great job but unfortunately, they’re exhausted and overworked," Schumer said.

Schumer said he’s trying to get FEMA to send a medical team of at least 30 people to Rochester to help out.