Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0% and most beds are filled with COVID-19 patients, according to state data
California has activated a field medical center in San Diego County to support overcrowded hospitals while COVID-19 patients continue to fill hospital beds, Governor Newsom said on Wednesday.
The Federal Medical Station, with a capacity for 250 additional hospital beds, has been unoccupied since April, awaiting the time when it may be necessary to provide additional resources for medical centers that treat patients with coronavirus.
A look at the Federal Field Hospital at Palomar Medical Center
Newsom announced on Wednesday that a decision was made to activate San Diego County facilities, which are on the 10th and 11th floors of the Palomar Medical Center.
Although the field hospital is not intended to support ICU patients, the additional hospital beds allow other hospitals to “decompress” their overloaded systems and allow for more flexibility, according to Newsom.
San Diego County is adding 250 hospital beds exclusive to coronavirus patients at the Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen on December 9 said 202 beds were set up and ready for the moment. About 50 nurses were ready to take care of these beds.
It was not clear when the facility would be up and running. County supervisor Nathan Fletcher said the situation was still developing and that public health officials would share the information as soon as it emerged.
Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0% and most beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients, according to state data.
When it was announced in April, the federal medical post was set to include 200 beds for general use, 20 beds for advanced care treatment, 10 adjustable exam beds for screening, five bariatric beds, 25 cribs and 24 portable cribs, according to the county.