Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0% and most beds are filled with patients with COVID-19, according to state data
California has activated a field medical center in San Diego County to support overwhelmed hospitals as patients with COVID-19 continue to fill hospital beds, Governor Newsom said Wednesday.
The Federal Medical Station, which has the capacity to hold 250 additional hospital beds, has been vacant since April, waiting for a time when it may be necessary to provide additional resources for medical centers treating coronavirus patients.
A look at the federal field hospital at Palomar Medical Center
Newsom announced on Wednesday that the decision has been made to activate the San Diego County facility, which is located on the 10th and 11th floors of Palomar Medical Center.
While the field hospital is not intended to support intensive care patients, the additional hospital beds allow other hospitals to “decompress” their overwhelmed systems and allow more flexibility, according to Newsom.
San Diego County adds 250 hospital beds exclusively for coronavirus patients at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen said on December 9 that there are 202 beds ready and ready to go by now. About 50 nurses were ready to provide these beds.
It was not clear immediately when the installation would work. County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said the situation is still developing and that public health officials will share information as it emerges.
Southern California has a current ICU capacity of 0%, and most beds are filled with patients with COVID-19, according to state data.
When it was announced in April, the federal medical station was to include 200 general purpose beds, 20 improved care beds, 10 adjustable triage examination beds, five bariatric beds, 25 toddler cots and 24 portable cribs, according to the county.