Facility opening on the campus of the former St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles
Video of Los Angeles Surge Hospital
SACRAMENTO – A new COVID-19 treatment center in the former St. Vincent Medical Center will begin accepting COVID-19 transfer patients from other hospitals in the region on April 13. The facility will increase capacity in phases with a maximum capacity of 266 beds. California is leasing the medical center to expand the capacity of the health care delivery system to prepare for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases.
“California continues to prepare our health care delivery system for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients. I am grateful that the County of Los Angeles, Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente have joined us in this effort.” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
“This unprecedented public private partnership between the State of California, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Dignity Health, and Kaiser Permanente is now underway to prepare the former St. Vincent Medical Center to serve as a COVID-19 treatment center,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, director for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. “The Los Angeles Surge Hospital will be a transfer-only facility, accepting only patients who test positive for the virus from other regional public and private hospitals to increase the county’s surge capacity should the need arise. We are grateful to Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis for their vision and support, and to all of our partners for coming together to swiftly ensure we are prepared to respond to this crisis.”
“I applaud Gov. Newsom’s bold and decisive action to temporarily transform the former St. Vincent Medical Center into a surge hospital that will help individuals exposed to COVID-19,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “Under my direction, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services will provide transportation, referrals, and other support in tandem with Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health to expedite the opening of this temporary hospital on the St. Vincent campus. Once operational, the Los Angeles Surge Hospital at St. Vincent will serve the region with the primary mission of increasing hospital capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 and helping to slow the spread of this pandemic. This medical campus, located in the heart of my Supervisorial First District, will address our urgent health care needs through this unique public-private partnership among the State of California, L.A. County, Kaiser Permanente, and Dignity Health. No one stands alone in this critical moment, and I thank each partner for coming together to treat COVID-19 patients and for ensuring our communities remain safe and healthy.”
Video of Los Angeles Surge Hospital.
This temporary facility will expand ICU capacity for patients who contract COVID-19, operating as a dedicated referral hospital. It will not have an emergency room or be equipped to accept walk-up patients. The County of Los Angeles will coordinate transfers and discharges. Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente will manage the site on behalf of the state.
While California prepares for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients, the most important thing Californians can do to support the health care delivery system is to stay healthy by continuing to stay home and practicing physical distancing.