The International Medical Corps field units enable hospitals to expand triage and treatment space at existing facilities, improve patient flow and keep COVID-19 patients separated from other patients. Depending on the configuration chosen, hospitals can potentially treat hundreds of extra patients per day with the units, which can include patient beds, medical examination supplies, portable sinks, power, lighting and HVAC units. The field units can be constructed in approximately six to 12 hours, be operational within 24 hours and withstand sustained winds of up to 80 mph. Each hospital determines specifically how it intends to use the additional space and resources.
CHRISTUS Spohn will use its emergency medical field units to expand its footprint during emergencies and pandemics. Because the units are versatile, they can serve as triage sites; testing sites; distribution centers and waiting rooms, serving as a valuable resource for Coastal Bend communities.
The field units, equipment and supplies are funded by AbbVie, and are helping to increase capacity at overburdened hospitals throughout the US, where International Medical Corps has fielded 26 deployments. Emergency medical field units are now outside Boston, in greater Chicago, in the Corpus Christie area, in Detroit, in Los Angeles and California’s Central Valley, in New York and in Puerto Rico. FedEx provides related logistical and shipping support to the nationwide effort.
International Medical Corps also has activated its volunteer roster of nearly 300 medical professionals to provide medical surge capacity to hospitals around the country, to fill critical gaps in patient care, nursing, and infection prevention and control. In addition, it is training existing hospital staff on preparedness, response and mental health needs as needed, and providing online training through its COVID-19 Learning Series.
International Medical Corps emergency team members will set up the field units outside CHRISTUS Spohn Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Memorial hospitals on Tuesday, September 8; outside CHRISTUS Spohn South and CHRISTUS Spohn Beeville hospitals on Wednesday, September 9; and outside CHRISTUS Spohn Kleberg and CHRISTUS Spohn Alice hospitals on Thursday, September 10. The builds on each day will take place at about 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., respectively (please contact Ricki Weisberg, using the info below, to confirm). Experts from International Medical Corps and CHRISTUS Spohn Health System will be available to answer questions from the media about the deployments, and about the steps being taken by the organizations to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19.
ABOUT THIS RESPONSE
AbbVie, a partner of International Medical Corps since the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, is helping meet the need for expanded healthcare capacity for hospitals on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is funding the procurement of the tents, equipment, supplies and all operating expenses for deployments at US hospitals through the end of 2020, as part of an overall $35 million commitment to support COVID-19 relief efforts around the world.
FedEx, as part of its long-time collaboration with International Medical Corps, is providing extensive logistical support, delivering the shelters and supplies as part of its FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative. The company uses its global network and logistics expertise to help organizations with mission-critical needs in times of disaster and for special shipments.
International Medical Corps is working globally with international health bodies, local and national governments, ministries of health, local health facilities and community-based organizations to provide expertise, equipment, training, and triage and treatment services in response to the pandemic. Its response prioritizes areas where the disease has already spread or where healthcare systems—and, thus, populations—are particularly vulnerable.
Members of the media with questions for International Medical Corps about this deployment should contact Ricki Weisberg at rweisberg@internationalmedicalcorps.org or 610-517-6668.
Those with questions for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System should contact Nikela Pradier at nikela.pradier@christushealth.org or 214-636-9199.
For more information about International Medical Corps’ global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit: internationalmedicalcorps.org/covid19.
For more information about CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, please visit www.christusspohn.org.
For questions about the emergency medical field units or any other aspects of International Medical Corps’ nationwide response, please write to media@internationalmedicalcorps.org.