CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Atruim and Novant Health systems have asked Mecklenburg County and its’ partners to build a field hospital to treat as many as 3,000 additional COVID-19 coronavirus patients during the anticipated surge of the virus.
In a joint letter Thursday to Mecklenberg County Manager Dena Diorio, Atrium CEO Eugene Woods and Novant CEO Carl Armato said that in spite of canceling non-emergency visits, providing thousands of virtual visits, and increasing hospital bed capacity by 50 percent in the last several weeks, there is a potential need for as many as 3,000 additional hospital beds.
"Using the latest epidemiological statistical analysis to predict community spread, we are anticipating potential additional volumes of approximately 3,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients beyond our currently planned surge capacity," the letter reads. "In addition, our models suggest the surge will occur between mid-April and mid-May 2020."
A final location for the requested field hospital has not been confirmed or announced, WCNC Charlotte's Hunter Saenz learned Thursday. They are in the final stage of planning logistics.
In the letter, the hospital system leaders propose University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a possible location.
While UNCC has not been confirmed as the final location, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois announced Thursday that it may become necessary for Holshouser, Hunt, Laurel, Levine, Sanford and Scott Halls to be opened for support of the county and state’s plans to protect the health and safety of the community.
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