In order to be better equipped to respond to a medical surge in the event of an emergency or disaster, PeaceHealth St. John purchased an emergency triage and treatment shelter system to be used as an alternate care site.
At the end of September, Cowlitz County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) received a local health jurisdiction allocation of federal CARES Act funding from the state in the amount of $2.1 mil. This funding will be used to pay for CCHHS COVID-19 response activities from 3/1/2020 to 12/30/2020. Expenses may include surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, mitigation, and or other preparedness and response activities for COVID-19.
On 10/14/2020 the Cowlitz County Board of County Commissioners approved reimbursement of $170,000 to PeaceHealth St. John for the emergency triage and treatment shelter system.
“PeaceHealth St. John wants to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Cowlitz County Health and Human Services for providing grant money for the purchase of an emergency triage and treatment shelter system,” said PeaceHealth St. John Chief Administrator Cherelle Montanye. “The Rapid Shelter system we are securing will provide us with the ability to continue to care for our community and patients in the event of a disaster.”
The ASAP® Rapid Shelter will allow PeaceHealth St. John to maintain or enhance needed services during a disaster like an earthquake, pandemic, fire, or flood. The modular system is designed to be deployed in just 60 seconds and can be scaled up to serve as a complete mobile field hospital complete with flooring, lights, heating, plumbing, even negative air pressure zones.
“PeaceHealth St. John is elated to receive this gift from our Cowlitz County partners,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Marisa Hutcheson. “This shelter’s modular design gives us the ability to expand the hospital footprint to meet most any need. It gives us the capability to establish alternate care sites during emergencies or disasters, increases our resiliency in disaster situations, and enhances our ability to continue to provide care to the community in a crisis.
To contact the Health and Human Services Departments, please call 360-414-5599.
| CONTACT: |
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Ralph Herrera, PIO
360-442-7082 or 360-414-5599 |