HAMLET — Preparations are underway to make sure the former Sandhills Regional Medical Center can handle an overflow of patients not infected with the coronavirus, should the need arise.
Emily Sloan, who works in public relations with FirstHealth, which owns the building, said the state has moved in and held a private open house on Monday county leadership, law enforcement and first responders, FirstHealth EMS and hospital administration to introduce leaders of the facility.
“Under the direction of the State Emergency Response Team, the Office of EMS Healthcare Preparedness Program has led the stand-up of the facility,” said Keith Acree, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. “Partners such as the National Guard are working to prepare the closed hospital facility for possible use.”
The utilization of the facility was announced by State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry on April 7.
“The state has set up for 35 patients currently, but can expand,” Sloan said. “At this time, there are no immediate plans to move patients to the facility.”
Acree said the hospital will be able to house up to 60 patients if needed.
“The facility would be managed by the state and staffed by a combination of State Medical Response System personnel and a North Carolina National Guard medical team including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, medics and support staff,” he added.
The hospital was utilized to create a COVID-19 mobile testing facility in late March. However, testing was moved to the outpatient parking lot of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond in Rockingham within two weeks of the state’s announcement.
FirstHealth acquired Sandhills in late 2016 and closed the hospital the following year.
