China builds 645,000-sf coronavirus hospital in 10 days

A new hospital in Wuhan, China, built to treat patients of the coronavirus outbreak, has finished construction in just 10 days, according to an Associated Press article.

The 645,000-sf Huoshenshan Hospital relied on the use of prefabricated rooms and 7,000 engineers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other tradesmen working around the clock to complete the project so quickly. The two-story, 1,000-bed facility houses patient wards, which includes isolation wards and 30 intensive-care units; bathrooms; doctor rooms, and nurse stations, the Associated Press said, citing China’s Yangtze Daily newspaper.

Huoshenshan Hospital under construction fromabove

Specialized ventilation systems and double-sided cabinets that connect patient rooms to hallways allow staff to bring supplies to patients without having to enter the rooms. Infrared scanners will warn if any staff members show signs of fever. A video system, installed in fewer than 12 hours, will allow doctors to talk with experts in Beijing’s PLA General Hospital.

A second facility, the 1,500-bed Leishenshan Hospital, is set to open Wednesday after beginning construction on Jan. 27.

Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?

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Pictured: Boulder Community Health’s West Medical Building, Lafayette, Colo. Photo: 2020 Caleb Tkach

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