Anticipating a new surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, crews are constructing a 25-patient medical tent in the parking lot of Los Alamitos Medical Center.s
According to Tenet spokesperson Jennifer Bayer, the tent will be used for patient care, not just triage.
Construction of the mobile field hospital, including electricity, running water and an HVAC system is underway and Bayer said photos will be released upon its official opening.
State health officials, already near capacity, are bracing for the possibility of coronavirus hospitalizations continuing to surge across Southern California. Hospitals across the region expect a renewed following the holiday season.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently extended the stay-at-home order as hospitals across Los Angeles and Orange counties have seen significant increases in hospitalizations. Many have said they are struggling to keep up with patient demand.
State health officials say the two-to-three-week window from Christmas and New Years will likely produce an expanded COVID patient population.
“Los Alamitos Medical Center continues to serve our community during these unprecedented times thanks to the commitment and dedication of our tireless nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and support teams,” said Bayer.
“We also greatly value and appreciate our relationship with Orange County Emergency Medical Services and other first responders who are also working around the clock to operationalize these critical Mobile Field Hospital resources,” she added.
“This collaboration is key in continuing to provide quality care to both COVID and non-COVID patients. As always, said Bayer,”we implore the public to do its part and to proactively protect themselves and others by wearing a mask in public, using good hand hygiene and practice physical distancing.”
