“I can’t think of a better way to chip in and help our community,” said Jim Worthington, who has owned the club for over 40 years.
There are currently 80 to 100 beds inside the facility, which Bucks County Emergency Services Director Scott Forster explained are for Tier II and Tier III patients if the hospitals fill up.
“Individuals who may need additional oxygen support, individuals who may need intravenous fluids and people who are just in need of additional assistance so they can get back to health before they go home,” he said.
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There were a lot of last-minute preparations that needed to be done to transform the Newtown Athletic Club into a field hospital.
“Like alternative generators power for the building,” said Forster, “we are bringing in all the medical supplies, we will be bringing oxygen concentrators in, we will be bringing other types of supplies in to take care of the folks that do come to this location.”
Right now, Forster said there is enough room in the hospitals for everyone. And in a dream world, he hopes they never have to use this space.
“We don’t know that we will need this facility,” he said. “But the time we know we need it is not the time to get ready for it, the time to get ready is now.”
The Newtown Athletic Club field hospital will be staffed by volunteers.
COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients can be treated there depending on their situation, and they will be in different parts of the facility.
“Whatever it would take to alleviate some of the stress on the hospitals when they are at capacity and when they are surging,” added Forster.
This is being set up for Bucks County patients, but Forster wouldn’t rule out the idea of welcoming in patients from other counties if there becomes a need.