Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health received approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily add 54 inpatient beds at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in case the COVID-19 surge worsens, MiBiz reported Dec. 28.
Spectrum Health would put 33 beds on the 11th floor of the Grand Rapids-based hospital, which is currently used for offices. The other 21 beds would be on the first floor in the area that is currently a cafeteria.
These beds would be for patients with low-acuity medical conditions, while COVID-19 and higher-acuity patients would be treated in the standard rooms.
The health system does not predict needing the additional beds, but requested them as a safety measure, according to the report.
"These are for us to build out contingency space so that if this surge does worsen that we have space that is minimally suitable to be able to effectively take care of additional patients," COO Brian Brasser said, according to MiBiz. "This is so we're well-prepared in the event that things do intensify."