Ontario ’ s First COVID-19 Field Hospital Built at JBH
As news of COVID-19 spread and put hospitals on high alert around the world , JBH ’ s leadership team and Board took action , moving quickly to prepare for and implement a plan to respond to the pandemic and support our community . Within the first 100 days of the WHO declaring the global pandemic , our leadership team and Board had foresight to envision and mobilize to build a temporary state-of-the-art field hospital field hospital at JBH .
The rapid construction the Pandemic Response Unit ( PRU ), completed in April 2020 , followed warning signals from global healthcare organizations grappling with the enormity of infections and inability in some cases to help those where life-saving equipment was limited . Striving to act quickly to the anticipated needs of the community , JBH led the effort to build the PRU – the first custom-designed structure of its kind in Ontario . The PRU would ensure bed capacity to continue caring for the community as the pandemic evolved .
Throughout 2020 , the PRU stood ready to receive patients in the event of a worst-case scenario surge in COVID-19 cases . It also became part of a broader regional strategy to ensure patients in the area covering Hamilton , Niagara , Haldimand , Norfolk , Brant and Burlington ( HNHBB ) received COVID-19 care , while minimizing disruptions to scheduled care at other partner hospitals .
Hospital CEOs and clinical leaders across the HNHBB region collaborated to develop an evidence-based , equitable “ regional model of care ” strategy . This ensured that the sickest COVID-19 patients received care in the most appropriate setting – preferably at their local hospital ; however , when all conventional space was exhausted , the PRU served as a “ safety valve ” to help relieve pressure and provide care for mild to moderate patients who were on their way to recovery .
In January 2021 , the PRU began to receive its first patients . As the needs of the community evolved in the spring 2021 , the PRU ’ s innovative and flexible design allowed it to quickly transition to a Halton Region mass vaccination site , taking on another key role in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
Every day , we work closely with our regional and provincial health partners to monitor the situation , assess risk and determine the best use of the PRU to meet those future needs .
“ Our Pandemic Response Unit was instrumental in preparing our region for the expected surge of COVID-19 patients . Thanks to strong partnerships built with area hospitals during the pandemic , together we were able to address the urgent patient care needs during this health care crisis . As COVID-19 remains an ongoing threat , our PRU will stand at the ready as a robust , state-of-the-art temporary field hospital to meet the needs of our community .”
– ERIC VANDEWALL , PRESIDENT AND CEO
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