WATCH: Mercy Opens COVID-19 Mobile Care Unit

WATCH: Mercy Opens COVID-19 Mobile Care Unit

WATCH: Mercy Opens COVID-19 Mobile Care Unit

Mercy Hospital in Springfield has set up a COVID-19 mobile care unit right outside the emergency room.

Mercy set up a mobile unit when the pandemic began, but this one takes things a step further.

With coronavirus cases on the rise and flu season right around the corner, Mercy hopes to be able to treat people with severe flu or COVID-19 symptoms right inside the mobile unit and keep them out of the ER.

Mercy hopes to treat coronavirus patients and send them home, cutting down on wait times.

Patients who need more treatment would be admitted to the hospital.

Here’s more from Mercy:

With an impending flu season and a continued high number of COVID-19 infections in the region, Mercy Hospital Springfield has placed a “Mobile Care Unit” just outside the emergency room to meet the community’s evolving needs.

“When the pandemic began, we opened trailers to assess patients for COVID-19 symptoms before they came into our Springfield ER,” said Craig McCoy, president of Mercy Springfield Communities. “The idea was to separate them from those who were there for other needs. Now, we’ve taken that a step further – providing care for respiratory infections within an expanded unit. The hope is we can either directly admit patients to the hospital from there – or, even better, treat and release them to go back home.”

With the opening of the new Mobile Care Unit, those with severe flu or COVID-19 symptoms will receive emergency care in that area, with improved infection prevention measures and a shorter wait time.

The area includes space for 15 patient care areas and imaging equipment.

“This addition will go a long way toward distancing our patients from each other,” said Brent Hubbard, president of Mercy Hospitals Springfield Communities. “We know some fear seeking emergency care because of the virus, and this is another step we can take to alleviate those risks and concerns.”

Mercy held a small, private blessing for the facility on Monday, Oct. 26. It is now fully operational and ready to care for anyone with respiratory symptoms.

It is located just outside the ER entrance at Mercy Hospital Springfield.

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