Atrium Health MED-1 Mobile Hospital Unit

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
  • Haywood, NC
• 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.