A location for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance field hospital has been finalized.
CKHA announced Thursday afternoon the field hospital will be located at the St. Clair College HealthPlex in Chatham after a deal was reached.
CKHA CEO Lori Marshall said the field hospital will be open as soon as possible and will have the capacity to treat up to 40 recovering patients, which could include patients recovering from the virus.
"We are preparing for a potential influx of patients and creating capacity in Chatham-Kent. This will help address challenges for hospitals across the province," said Lori Marshall, president and CEO of CKHA. "Our hope is that we do not have to move any patients to our field hospital but we are making these preparations for the possible scenario that we receive an influx locally or if we are required to take additional patients from outside our municipality."
Marshall is quick to point out the field hospital will be used as a last resort.
She told reporters during a conference call that St. Clair College made sense because it's large and has shower facilities.
Marshall also said employees with the Local Health Integration Network Home and Community Care will staff the field hospital.
She said equipment for the field hospital will be rented or borrowed and won't be moved from the Chatham hospital.
During a news conference on Thursday morning, Marshall said final negotiations were underway.
Marshall said last week a field hospital was under consideration in Chatham-Kent in case there is an overflow of patients at the Chatham hospital during an expected COVID-19 surge. She said work was underway to determine if there is a suitable spot for a field hospital in the area.
CKHA already has 46 extra beds at its Chatham hospital and has cancelled non-emergency and elective surgeries allowing the hospital to redeploy 40 nurses to other areas during the pandemic.
Former CK fire chief Bob Crawford will handle the logistics and is working with other organizations to set up the field hospital.
"Bob is well known in Chatham-Kent as the former chief, Fire and Paramedic Services. In addition to this, Bob has extensive experience in Emergency Planning in Canada and internationally. Bob's skills, knowledge and experience will be critical in the planning and set up of the Field Hospital to serve our community," said Marshall.
Crawford has been hired until the end of May.
CKHA has also announced that the COVID-19 assessment centre in Chatham next to the hospital will remain open this Easter long weekend.