h. nazan ışık—
31 March 2020—
As the coronavirus continues to spread in New York City, hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. New York started getting Federal help from Navy, Army, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The US Navy hospital ship Comfort arrived in New York City on 30 March, and also Javits Center temporary hospital opened as a medical facility at the Jacob Javits Center to expand the number of available hospital beds and relieve the pressure on hospitals overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. Both hospitals would treat only Non-COVID-19 patients.
And, on 31 March, New York City is having another temporary hospital: Central Park field hospital to treat only COVID-19 patients.
Central Park field hospital (h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)
The Central Park field hospital is not a Navy, not an Army hospital. It is a partnership between New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital (Mount Sinai Health System) and Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse.
Central Park field hospital, in the background famous the San Remo building. (Photo: h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN)
The location of this emergency field/tent hospital, in the East Meadow, near 99th Street and Fifth Avenue, is interesting. On the east, one can see, famous 5th Avenue apartments and on the west famous the San Remo building.
Boxes with “Respiratory care” labels waiting to be opened at the Emergency Field Hospital set up by Samaritan’s Purse staff members and volunteers. (Photo: h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)
The 14-tent makeshift emergency field hospital will have total 68 beds. One of the 14 tents is an intensive care unit (ICU) tent with10 beds, and 10 ventilators.
Samaritan’s Purse staff Ken Isaacs (second from right,), Vice President of Programs and Government Relations, gave Dr. David Reich (right, in brown coat), president and chief operating officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital and President of Mount Sinai Queens a tour of the field hospital. (Photo: h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN)
I was cruise about the privacy in the ICU tent, and had a chance to speak with Ken Isaacs.
Ken Isaacs,: “ It is set like a dormitory style, beds are next to each other”
h. nazan ışık: Any curtains between beds?
K.I.: No.
h.n.ı: Since you have one ICU tent with 10 beds, Is it one side for female, one side for male patients?
K.I: Oh, I need to find out about it.
h.n.ı: Who did initiate this partnership between New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital and Samaritan’s Purse, who approached whom?
K.I : They knew our previous works, and we were available to offer our help.
h.n.ı: Will you take care of only COVID-19 patients coming from only Mount Sinai Hospital.
K.I: Yes. And the first patients will be sent from Brooklyn Mount Sinai Hospital.
h.n.ı: It is a very cold today, Are the tents will be heated?
K.I.: Oh yes, they will be heated.
h.n.ı: You are supposed to be ready to open the field hospital today, 31 March, to accept patients. Do you think you can?
K.I: We are working …
It was about 7:30 pm when I left Central Park, and they were not ready yet. I presume that the opening day will be tomorrow 1 April.
Photos © h. nazan ışık/NKENdiKEN
© h. nazan ışık