Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion Prepared to be a PopUp Hospital If Needed

KRON4 recently reported that Bay Area hospitals are getting ready to expand their ICU capacity if needed.

One way the Bay Area is making space for the increasing ICU patients is making existing spaces into pop-up temporary field medical stations. Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion has 255 beds that have been setup since April, but thankfully, they haven’t been needed yet.

Unfortunately, ICU capacity across the Bay Area is under 13%, but health officials are prepared. They can have the Craneway Pavilion up and running and staffed within 2 to 3 days if needed.

Hospitals are also preparing by ramping up their capacity. John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek is prepared to add alternative care units for overflow emergency department patients, but not the acute nor respiratory patients.

Health officials are concerned, but hopeful as the vaccine has started to roll out. John Muir Medical Center expect to their staff and physicians to have the first dose of the vaccine within the next couple of weeks. Nearly 500 vaccinations for its staff occurred on the first day.