Early on in the pandemic, there was talk of reopening what was Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury. That option, which would add 300 beds to the mix, is still on the table, although New Jersey health officials say the facility owned by Inspira is “on reserve”.
The same can be said for Salem Medical Center in Mannington Township, where 58 beds have been added in wings that had been shut down.
“They have all negative pressure and also the capability to monitor at an ICU level so they have bedside monitors in these rooms,” center CEO Tammy Torres told KYW Newsradio. “We developed two floors so we have that capability.”
Also on standby is a group of 28 active duty Army doctors, nurses and others to assist the Salem staff should the need arise.
“Every week it looks like that curve is flattening quite a bit,” Torres added. “So we might not need them, but they’re here in the event that we do.”
Related
Essentially, the state pulls the trigger on using either facility.
There is a FEMA field hospital now in operation inside the Atlantic City Convention Center.