Emergency Medical Field Unit Built At Vista Medical Center East

From the Lake & McHenry County Scanner:

By Sam Borcia | April 19, 2020 6:58 pm

<img class="wp-image-11608" src="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93378145_2649508921951684_8527220888293081088_o.jpg" alt="" width="808" height="549" srcset="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93378145_2649508921951684_8527220888293081088_o.jpg 784w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93378145_2649508921951684_8527220888293081088_o-300x204.jpg 300w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93378145_2649508921951684_8527220888293081088_o-768x522.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px" />The International Medical Corps sets up a medical field unit to support coronavirus patients at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Friday. | Photo: Vista Health System.

The International Medical Corps has built an emergency medical field unit at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, which will be used to triage and test coronavirus patients.

Personal protective equipment and volunteer clinicians were also deployed to the hospital by the International Medical Corps.

The field unit is allowing the hospital to expand triage capabilities, improve patient flow and keep COVID-19 patients separated from other patients.

The nonprofit group built the field unit on Friday and the tents include patient beds, medical examination supplies, portable sinks, power, lighting and HVAC units. The field unit was constructed in a day and was operational a short time later. The tents are able to withstand sustained winds of up to 80 mph.

The clinical volunteers that International Medical Corps is sending to Vista Medical Center East will help augment Vista’s staff and alleviate strain due to increased number of patients.

<img class=" wp-image-11607" src="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93518960_2649508945285015_1515098508787449856_o.jpg" alt="" width="798" height="508" srcset="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93518960_2649508945285015_1515098508787449856_o.jpg 960w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93518960_2649508945285015_1515098508787449856_o-300x191.jpg 300w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/93518960_2649508945285015_1515098508787449856_o-768x489.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px" />The International Medical Corps sets up a medical field unit to support coronavirus patients at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Friday. | Photo: Vista Health System.

Vista Medical Center East is the first hospital in the Chicago area to be provided with the field units by International Medical Corps. UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial in Harvey will be the second.

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The field units, equipment and supplies are funded by AbbVie, who has donated $35 million in their commitment to support COVID-19 relief efforts around the world. The International Medical Corps plans a total of 20 deployments in the United States.

Emergency medical field units are now in greater Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and two cities in Puerto Rico. Further deployments of equipment, staff and supplies are planned in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, New Orleans and Boston.

FedEx is also assisting the International Medical Corps by providing logistical and shipping support.

The International Medical Corps has also activated its volunteer roster of nearly 300 medical professionals to provide medical surge capacity to hospitals around the country.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported on Sunday that Lake County has 2,162 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 75 deaths.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.