“The flu is part of it, but we’re seeing a higher acuity of patients, greater numbers of patients with really all types of illnesses and injuries,” John Wheary, DO, director of emergency medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, said Wednesday.
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest added its tent last week, followed by the Muhlenberg campus this week. The eight-campus health system last deployed surge tents in 2013, Dr. Wheary said.
“One day ago this was a parking lot,” Dr. Wheary said. “In less than 24 hours we have a tent that’s fully functional with equipment, computers, everything that we need to take care of emergency patients.”
More articles on patient flow:
Nashville community to Meharry Medical College: Keep Nashville General open
In treating students from Kentucky, Vanderbilt trauma team encounters first experience with school shooting
‘Hazmat situation’ prompts evacuation of Baylor Scott & White ER hospital
