Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0%, and the majority of beds are filled with COVID-19 patients, according to state data
California has activated a field medical center in San Diego County to support overwhelmed hospitals as COVID-19 patients continue to fill hospital beds, Government Newsom said Wednesday.
The Federal Medical Station, which has the capacity to accommodate 250 additional hospital beds, has been vacant since April and is awaiting a time when additional resources may need to be made available to medical centers treating coronavirus patients.
A look into Palomar Medical Center’s Federal Field Hospital
Newsom announced Wednesday that the decision was made to activate the San Diego County facility, located on the 10th and 11th floors of Palomar Medical Center.
While the field hospital is not intended to support ICU patients, the extra hospital beds allow other hospitals to “decompress” their overwhelmed systems and allow for more flexibility, according to Newsom.
San Diego County is adding 250 hospital beds exclusive to coronavirus patients at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen on December 9 said that there were 202 beds set up and ready for use at this moment. About 50 nurses were ready to staff these beds.
It was not immediately clear when the plant would be up and running. County Superintendent Nathan Fletcher said the situation is still evolving and public health officials will share information as it comes.
Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0%, and the majority of beds are filled with COVID-19 patients, according to state data.
When it was announced in April, the federal medical station was set to include 200 beds for general use, 20 improved nursing beds, 10 adjustable exam beds for triage, five bariatric beds, 25 cots and 24 portable cots, according to the county.