Sunnybrook nearing completion of COVID-19 field hospital in parking lot
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is nearing the final stages of construction on a COVID-19 field hospital to accommodate soaring admissions spurred by the third wave.
Located in a hospital parking lot, the Mobile Health Unit will provide care to patients who are recovering from COVID-19, or who have recovered and are waiting to be discharged.
The unit will have 84 beds, with the capacity to expand to 100 if needed, as well as medical supplies and equipment. Twenty beds are expected to be available by the end of April.
At nearly 22,500 square feet, the site is made up of several self-contained “pods” that are connected by corridors. Each pod will have between eight and ten beds.
“Sunnybrook’s Mobile Health Unit will allow us to safely care for more patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, as needed,” the hospital said.
“This new unit means that specialized resources, such as intensive care, can be made available in hospitals for those who need it most.”
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The field hospital is a “fully contained patient unit” that will be staffed by a team of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and social workers.
It’s made of “durable, waterproof, fire-retardant PVC coated fabric” that is supported
by an aluminum frame. The hospital notes the unit is insulated for all weather conditions.
In addition to patient beds, the facility includes a reception area, waiting room, and nursing stations, as well as 24/7 security.
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions have been rising across Ontario in recent weeks, with younger people increasingly requiring care.
Currently, 2,065 people are hospitalized with coronavirus in the province, including 726 who are in the ICU – the highest Ontario has seen since the the start of the pandemic.
To date, the province has reported 412,745 COVID-19 cases and 7,698 virus-related deaths.
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