Kaweah Delta Medical Center in Visalia, Calif., has set up a tent to expand its waiting area due to a recent surge in emergency department patients, according to a Valley Voice report.
The surge in patients stems from an early flu season and the recent closure of a nearby hospital's ED and health clinics in Tulare, Calif.
The tent will be open as needed during periods of peak demand to provide a larger waiting area for ED patients. The tent is a fully operable "room" that is rain-proof and includes electricity, HVAC and various supplies. Patients inside the tent will be monitored by staff.
"Our ED is one of the busiest in the state, seeing 90,000 patients each year," said Gary Herbst, CEO of Kaweah Delta Medical Center. "The demand for our medical services has increased to the point that we are taking further steps to best care for each person seeking medical care."