Renown Health is preparing for a surge in hospitalized patients needing care for symptoms of COVID-19 by creating a temporary patient care area in its Mill Street Parking Structure. Hospital officials based the decision to install the interim facility on predictive models analyzing local, national and international data of the spread of coronavirus.
Renown has already placed closure signs at entrances to the garage, and security around the location is tight. A hospital security guard threatened to detain This Is Reno’s Editor, Bob Conrad, who was taking a photo for this story after the hospital sent out a news release announcing the changes.
It appears that initial stages of work have already begun, an indication that increasing capacity is a top priority for the hospital. While temporary, Renown notes that the patient care area will be “sophisticated” and have the features of a regular health care facility: flooring, electrical infrastructure, lighting, water, technology and wall partitions, along with beds and basic patient care support equipment.
“Across the country, we are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases including significant surges in hospitalized patients in many communities. As our nation experiences the impact of this international pandemic, we at Renown Health are focused on preparing for what could occur in our own community,” the hospital said in a recent statement. “We are preparing for potential patient census increases, requiring a planning effort that challenges us to think outside of the box.”
Renown added that it’s not the only hospital to take this approach to meeting increasing demands due to the pandemic. It cited Vanderbilt University Hospital as another facility that has built a temporary care center. Colorado Public Radio reported yesterday that Governor Jared Polis has ordered preparation of 12,000 additional patient beds in field facilities, and the California Air National Guard is working to convert the Santa Clara Convention Center into a temporary federal medical facility, according to The Mercury News.
Renown’s decision to reconfigure the parking garage rather than seek floor space at an off-site facility, such as the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, was a logistical one.
“This location allows caregivers to remain on campus, and still have accessibility to existing hospital infrastructure such as lab, pharmacy, imaging, food services and other critical services,” the statement said. “This solution also allows for an efficient level of care escalation and other emergent interventions as needed.”
Read more news about COVID-19 in Reno
Sin miedo al fracaso: Familia local abre su segunda panadería guatemalteca durante la pandemia (patrocinado)
PATROCINADO: Los emprendedores se enfrentan a muchos desafíos, pero sin duda, una pandemia tan catastrófica como el COVID-19 no es algo fácil de vencer.
Hospital workers picket outside of Saint Mary’s—again (updated)
Members of the Communications Workers of America picketed outside Saint Mary’s hospital after struggling for almost a year to negotiate a contract.
COVID-19: Health District reports lowest daily new cases since November
Washoe County Health District is recording a decreased number of COVID-19 infections, with about 193 new cases per day.
Nevada reports 1,221 new coronavirus cases, 5 more deaths
The number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths reported regularly dips over weekends and holidays, when less testing centers and labs are open
Latest relief bill adds rental assistance, allows landlords to apply directly
Nevada is expected to receive around $206 million from the latest federal relief package for rental and utility assistance.
Nevada gets green light to spend over $40 million of additional relief funds
Nevada received permission to add more than $40 million from CRF funds allocated in 2020 to its 2021 CRF expenditures.
School district working to vaccinate thousands of employees
Washoe County School District Superintendent Kristen McNeill on Friday shared the district’s plan to vaccinate its employees to protect them from the COVID-19 virus.
15 more dead from COVID-19 in Washoe County, 168 new cases reported
Washoe County has once again hit a grim marker for most deaths in a single day—15.
Health District notes a flattening curve amid ongoing COVID-19 vaccination
The Washoe County Health District is noting a “sort of a flattening” of the curve of COVID-19 transmission and a slight decline in new cases.
School board welcomes new members, plans for return of secondary students (updated)
The school district’s trustees meeting broke from routine Tuesday as new members adjusted to the meeting’s flow.
