In the face of catastrophe, the ability to provide medical care is more important than ever. When hospitals or communities become overwhelmed, Atrium Health Mobile Emergency Department (MED-1) is there. It’s a flexible resource designed to provide the highest level of patient care where it’s needed.
Since its first deployment in 2005, Atrium Health MED-1 has saved lives, delivered babies and helped communities in crisis. This first-of-its-kind mobile hospital unit can be used to temporarily replace or support a hospital emergency department during a:
- Disaster (e.g., fire, flood, hurricane)
- Hospital renovation
- Mass gathering (e.g., sporting event, large community clinic)
- Pandemic, including COVID-19 testing and surge relief
When catastrophes or large-scale incidents happen, the need for surge relief can be very real and last for weeks. Based in Charlotte, NC, Atrium Health MED-1 will be there right away to help provide care seamlessly.
Contact Atrium Health MED-1
For more information about Atrium Health MED-1, email MED1Admin@AtriumHealth.org
For 24-hour emergency response, call 800-421-9195 and request activation of Atrium Health MED-1.
Deployments
Community service events/mass gatherings
- Democratic National Convention (Charlotte, NC)
- Community dental clinic (Charlotte, NC)
- Heart of a Champion Day (Various locations in NC)
- NASCAR at Eldora Speedway (New Weston, OH)
- PGA (Charlotte, NC)
- World Equestrian Games (Mills Springs, NC)
- 2017 UCI BMX World Championships (Rock Hill, SC)
COVID-19 pandemic response
- Atrium Health Pineville (Charlotte, NC)
- City of Rock Hill, SC
Disaster relief
- Fire
- Flood
- Burgaw, NC
- Columbus, IN
- Lumberton, NC
- Hurricane
- New Orleans, LA (Hurricane Katrina)
Emergency department renovation
- Grove Hill, AL
- Phoenix, AZ
Surge relief
- Atrium Health Navicent (Macon, GA)
- Democratic National Convention (Charlotte, NC)
- Grady Health System (Atlanta, GA)
Atrium Health MED-1 capabilities
- Travels as two 53-foot tractor trailers, with support vehicles
- Can be operational within 30 minutes of arrival
- Is completely self-sustaining for the first 72 hours, using generators or local shore power
- Maintains 72 hours of emergency department supplies
- Includes 1,000-square-foot patient care component, equipped and staffed to manage minor to severe emergency medical conditions
- Offers full operative trauma surgery, intensive medical care and anesthetic capabilities
- Has 6 critical care beds, including 2 isolated beds where surgical procedures may be performed
- Has emergency department acute care beds and dental/EENT chair
- Offers specialized equipment, including a Panda Warmer ™ for treatment of the neonatal population
- Equipped with satellite, cellular and radio capabilities
The following capabilities can also be deployed if needed:
- Shower/laundry truck
- Dormitory facilities (44-foot and 20-foot equipment trailers, plus tow vehicles)
- Maintenance truck (ambulance-sized vehicle)
- Vehicle for towing
- SUV for staff transportation
Atrium Health MED-1 physical requirements
- Hard surface: A concrete pad is best. Asphalt can sometimes be acceptable, as long as it’s not fresh asphalt.
- Space: The footprint of the hospital only – without the deployable tent – is 120 x 25 feet. There will also need to be space nearby to park the supply unit and support vehicles.
- Additional boot connector: This is to integrate seamlessly with other disaster or regional response teams using tent-based facilities.