AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO EXPAND CARE
COVID-19 RESPONSE
CARING FOR A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS
Johnson , RN ; Malia , RN ; Aurel , RN ; David , Nurse Apprentice ; Ashley , RN ; Rizzo , RN ; Brandi , RN
AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO EXPAND CARE
As communities across the nation experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases and subsequent surges in hospitalized patients , Renown ’ s Hospital Incident Command System team had the foresight to create an Alternate Care Site ( ACS ) in Renown Regional ’ s parking structure on Mill St . After just 10 days of intricate construction — including flooring , electrical infrastructure , lighting , water , technology and wall partitions — the site was completed on April 3 , 2020 , with space to hold up to 1,400 patients .
The ACS served additional hospitalized patients and allowed caregivers to remain on-campus while having access to existing hospital infrastructure such as lab , pharmacy , imaging , food services and other critical services . This solution also supported an efficient level of care escalation and other emergent interventions as needed .
On Nov . 12 , 2020 , Renown opened the ACS to serve additional hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were clinically stable or improving . Healthcare workers at Renown cared for hundreds of patients at this site . In early January 2021 , the remaining patients returned home .
8 ANNUAL REPORT