Oswego Health removes COVID-19 triage tent at hospital

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health on Friday removed the respiratory triage tent that it had set up outside its Oswego Hospital emergency room a few weeks before to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospital had constructed the portable tent on April 20 to triage all emergency walk-in visits to assist with screening of patients prior to entering the facility. It was part of Oswego Health’s “preparedness” should a surge of coronavirus patients arrive at the hospital. However, over the past six weeks, patient volumes have been “low,” along with the need for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients, the organization said.

“Our continued goal is to make people feel comfortable seeking emergent care for any illnesses or injury that can become serious without prompt attention,” Dr. Micheal Stephens, associate chief medical officer, said in a statement. “Oswego Hospital is a very safe environment; in fact, it may be safer than it ever has been, because of the new safety procedures.”

Oswego Health partnered with local vendor, Rental Warehouse, for the installation of the triage tent. The tent is readily available and can be installed within 24 hours, should the need arise, the organization said.