Memorial Hospital surge plans outlined

Sheridan Memorial Hospital has the capacity to handle over 100 COVID-19 patients just on the first floor.

Nyle Morgan, the hospital’s chief operating officer, outlined the capacity in a meeting of hospital trustees this week.

In all, Morgan said, 48 beds are dedicated for COVID-19 patients. In addition, the hospital has 26 medical/surgical beds, four ICU beds and 10 outpatient surgery beds open for non-COVID patients. If the hospital’s need for COVID beds exceeds the 48 currently available, the hospital could use any or all of the 40 non-COVID beds.

He said that would be a total of 88 beds on the first floor available for COVID patients, and the hospital would still have another 22 beds available for non-COVID patients.

In addition, Morgan said, construction is currently under way on the hospital’s second and third floors, creating reverse-air rooms for COVID patients.