WWII style. How long would it take to build enough make shift hospitals and medical facilities to offset any potential spikes around the country to treat both the inflicted and the rest of the normal amount of illnesses, injuries from car wrecks, violence, falling off a tree and breaking one's arm or leg etc? A year, 6 months, 2 month? And what about medical staff that is properly trained to handle everything. That would need to be increased as well. Are there enough out there that already have proper medical training to bring in (folks who were nurses, doctors etc in a prior career that now do something else) or how long would it take to train them to be able to give proper care?

I wish we were actively working on projects like this:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/excel-coronavirus-hospital-will-be-by-far-the-largest-in-the-uk

In Houston, I could see something similar done at Reliant Arena/Center as mass COVID patient processing/testing/treatment centers. I feel like that would streamline things in terms of having the right PPE, mediciens, treatments, etc. all in the same place with people who were trained properly. It would also keep the CV infected people away from other sick patients. Alas, with our medical system it probably isn't the most likely scenario.

The Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers was on TV last night talking about their plans:



Obviously less ambitious than the plans in some places, but it was comforting to see someone actually talk about putting things in place. We obviously sat around twiddling our thumbs too long. Hopefully they'll be able to get things in place to avoid the catastrophes that we're seeing in Italy and Spain.

Given how infectious this is and with the way this sickness kills compromised people, I would think that we would want to have separate facilities for covid patients ASAP.

The last thing you want is for an entire hospital to get ravaged by it and kill off wards of patients who don't have it.

Belton Ag said:

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Given how infectious this is and with the way this sickness kills compromised people, I would think that we would want to have separate facilities for covid patients ASAP.

The last thing you want is for an entire hospital to get ravaged by it and kill off wards of patients who don't have it.

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Watch the video above. He talks about giving cities the option to identify dorms / apartments for conversion into COVID-only hospitals (due to the need for isolation) or identify convention centers for use as non-COVID hospitals. It's pretty interesting.

Tbs2003 said:

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The Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers was on TV last night talking about their plans:



Obviously less ambitious than the plans in some places, but it was comforting to see someone actually talk about putting things in place. We obviously sat around twiddling our thumbs too long. Hopefully they'll be able to get things in place to avoid the catastrophes that we're seeing in Italy and Spain.

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Give this guy a blank check! This is what I have been looking for.

Government needs to start renting these empty warehouses and filling them up with cots if need be.

Nagler said:

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Government needs to start renting these empty warehouses and filling them up with cots if need be.

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The State of Florida started this last week.

The limitations are respirators first then staff close behind. More beds would only help so much.

In area hot spots, why not have the state/feds make deals to take over largely vacant hotels/civic centers, etc and transform them into care centers for COVID-19 cases only. Deploy/transport all necessary ventilators/ppe that the state/feds can muster to these centers and staff them with a special medical group composed largely of young medical/nursing students coupled with a group of physicians with expertise in this field. Deploy to areas of particular need and when under control in that area, deploy both the extra equpment/ppe and staff to next hot spot. Surely, this could be done with a few of the many billions authorized under the emergency stimulus plan.

If someone had a facility to provide as a temporary hospital how would they go about doing that? Who would one contact? I have something I think I can provide and if they can pay rent on it and clean up afterwards its fine, but if not its not a huge deal either and will still provide it (as long as its fully cleaned afterwards). I'm in College Station btw.

BANA89 said:

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The limitations are respirators first then staff close behind. More beds would only help so much.

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The separation from non COVID patients is key.

Speaking strictly for myself as an at risk, I would feel relatively fine opening everything back up once we had facilities in place and running knowing that in the off chance I caught this and had complications that would warrant hospitalization, I could be treated properly. Again, speaking for myself. My condition and level of risk isn't the same as others, so I get if not everyone would be comfortable with this.

Squadron7 said:

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BANA89 said:

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The limitations are respirators first then staff close behind. More beds would only help so much.

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The separation from non COVID patients is key.

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Separation is important, but it is not the only key. The patients who require intubation need it for 10+ days, as well as critical care staff to monitor. That's the immediate problem.

Live briefing underway right now -
https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Live-Events/#/?currentVideo=23606

Here is a link to the recorded briefing
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2129022/army-corps-of-engineers-commander-conducts-news-briefing/

Brief notes from 3 star's opening statement

• standard design for 4 types of facilities
• 2 Basic bins - Covid vs Non Covid facilities
• Hotel vs convention center type facilities - open vs dormitory style
• Site adapt standard designs
• State level decision on how to treat i.e. COVID vs Non-COVID facility
• Some states prefer to take the corps facility for non-covid patients leaving hospitals for COVID
• Other states all COVID patients to facility, leave hospital for other patients.
• Dormitory facility or hotel has higher staffing demand
• Most cities are wanting wider area for patients so that the need for staff is reduced and more patients can be observed and controlled from nurses stations
• Went to Coumo week from monday - he said 1 bldg by end of day, 7 or 8 by end of the weekend.
• Within 24 hours FEMA sent ACOE to Javits center
• Fema Rep - HHS Rep - ACOE Rep - with State/City reps to determine how to tailor solution specific to given city or state's needs
• Existing convention facility is good because of all of infrastructure power water parking and existing staff
• FEMA offered up 4 x 250 mobile hospitals in boxes that NYNG is deploying within the javits center.
• Stretching ratio and believe they will have 2900 rooms up by monday in the Javits center in NYC
• This is a NON-COVID facility to allow NYC hospitals to discharge 2900 patients that do not have covid to this facility.
• 2 army field hospitals are staffing Javits along with local staff
• 3 other COVID hospitals to be stood up out in community.
• Looking at 114 facilities - assessed 80 of them so far
• Standard design validated by feds and site adapted by 43 colonels in ACOE and civilian teams

I know Dallas County started looking at various places that could be used as alternative hospitals (your larger cities keep an inventory of these). Last night they put out a call for retired doctors, nurses and admin staff..........the other biggie is Texas has a general shortage of respiratory therapists.