Bayheath Preparing for Coronavirus Surge
Tents have recently gone up outside of the emergency Departments at Bayhealth Hospitals in both Kent and Sussex Counties. This will help to better prepare for a possible surge of patients due to the coronavirus – and separate them from others seeking emergency care for other illnesses and injuries. The tents, which would be for overflow coronavirus patients, are temperature controlled and have electric and IT access. The tents will have patient stations, desks and their own waiting areas, and there will be portable restrooms outside the tents.
Dr. Abbrescia said that at the Kent Campus, plans were already carried out more than three weeks ago to divide the existing ED space, including the waiting room. In order to keep all patients safe, there are separate areas in the ED for patients with symptoms of COVID-19 and for those experiencing other medical issues. A pod inside the ED has been designated specifically for COVID-19 patients needing an IV and more intense care. There is a seven-bed area within the converted ED waiting room for those considered lower-risk COVID-19 patients not needing critical care.It’s projected that if those beds become full, the 26 patient stations in the tent will be used to treat other COVID-19 patients in similar condition. The division of the waiting area and other protocols, such as using disposable curtains that are changed between each patient, have been put in place for the safety of all patients and staff.
The EDs at Bayhealth, Kent and Sussex Campuses and Bayhealth Emergency Center, Smyrna are still operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle all non-COVID-19 related emergencies and urgent care as they usually do. Community members who are not in need of urgent care but are concerned about COVID-19 symptoms they may be experiencing should call Bayhealth’s Coronavirus Management Team (CMT) hotline at 302-310-8477. This is staffed by physicians, nurses and advanced practice providers who are pre-screening callers and refer those who meet the criteria to a drive-thru location for COVID-19 testing. Visit Bayhealth.org/COVID-19 for the latest information. As always, if you are experiencing a severe or life-threatening situation, call 911.
