| Good afternoon Concord and Lakes Region-area Legislators, I write to provide information and an update on the process of setting up an alternative care site (ACS) for COVID patients at NHTI-Concord’s Community College in the event an overflow site is needed to serve Concord Hospital and LRGHealthcare (Laconia General and Franklin Regional Hospitals). An Incident Command Structure (ICS) has been implemented to organize the work of several partner entities which include: Concord Hospital, LRGHealthcare, Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association, Capital Area Public Health Network, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, DHHS, NH National Guard, City of Concord – Fire Department, NH State Police, NHTI and the Community College System of NH. Concord Hospital is the “lead” entity, and significant logistical and planning support is being provided by the NH National Guard. The team is transforming NHTI’s Sweeney Hall (which includes the gym, wellness center and student center) and Langley Hall (the dormitory behind Sweeney on the north side of campus, next door to Police Standards), so those areas can accommodate up to 300 patients and all the associated patient care functions. Approximately 140 patients can be accommodated in Langley Hall and 150 in the gymnasium. The upper floors of Sweeney will be used by clinicians and other hospital staff. At this time, the gym is full of cots. Nursing tables will be brought in in the coming days. As much furniture as can be removed from the buildings is being removed and stored. A significant supply chain and logistics plan is underway to meet the needs of the population, should the site become operational. Across NH’s community colleges, instruction has been shifted to online learning, so establishing the ACS does not disrupt students. All college-related functions associated with Sweeney and Langley are being conducted remotely. We hope to have the site fully ready this week, with a just few elements that may be completed the following week. It isn’t anticipated that an overflow site for the region would be needed until, potentially, mid-April. I encourage you to review additional information at these links: https://www.ccsnh.edu/acs/ https://www.nhti.edu/acs As the public information officer associated with this effort, I am also happy to answer your questions. I can be reached at [email protected] or 603-230-3504. Best regards, and best wishes for your safety and good health, Shannon Reid Executive Director of Government Affairs and Communications Community College System of NH |
