The University of Michigan health system is making plans for a field hospital for an expected overflow of COVID-19 patients.
Officials hope to transform an indoor track facility at U of M into a field hospital by April 9th or 10th.
Michigan Medicine officials expect a surge of coronavirus patients will come into the Ann Arborhospital in the next two weeks. At present, the university hospitals have space for several dozen critical COVID-19 patients.
Keith Dickey is the chief strategy officer for Michigan Medicine. He says they are eyeing an indoor track facility on the U of M campus for a possible 500-bed field hospital.
“The intent is for this field hospital to be a step down unit from the hospital for COVID-19 patients who are generally stable and who can be moved out of the hospital and cared for safely in this environment,” Dickey told reporters.
Dickey says the focus now is on finding the staff, the beds and the supplies needed to equip this field hospital.
The number of positive coronavirus cases in Michigan has jumped by more than 2,000 cases in the past 24 hours. State officials report the number of deaths in Michigan is also rising quickly, with 75 deaths over the last 24 hours alone.
Want to support reporting like this? Consider making a gift to Michigan Radio today.
