Now a COVID-19 specialty facility, new patients begin moving in to transformed Bethesda Hospital

Bethesda Hospital Chief Nurse shows off newly transformed Bethesda Hospital

The Hospital was quickly transformed into a COVID-19 specialty healthcare center and now the facility is ready for patients Thursday afternoon.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - In just days, 50 patients were moved out of St. Paul’s Bethesda Hospital and the building was transformed into a COVID-19 specific treatment facility.

The hospital went from zero ICU beds to 35 isolated rooms with ventilators available for all 35 patients who might need them to save their lives.

Now a COVID-19 specialty facility, new patients begin moving in to transformed Bethesda Hospital

In just days, 50 patients were moved out of St. Paul’s Bethesda Hospital and the building was transformed into a COVID-19 specific treatment facility.

Thursday, just hours before patients were scheduled to move in, the medical team demonstrated how to put on and take off their personal protective equipment.

M Health Fairview staff are assessing patients with the virus at its other facilities and deciding which ones will be best served by moving to what is now being called “Bethesda-COV” for their ongoing care.

Bethesda-COV can handle a total of 90 patients, including the 35 intensive care units.

COVID-19 patients are expected to begin arriving Thursday afternoon. At the outset, the hospital will be for COVID-19 patients who are already in the M Health Fairview system, but that could change depending on the illness spike across the Twin Cities metro region.

Healthcare worker demonstrates how they equip themselves to handle COVID-19 patients

A medical worker gives a personal protective equipment demonstration in the general care unit at Bethesda Hospital. This process will have to be done every time medical staff heads into a patient room for any reason. The N95 respirator mask comes out for more serious patient contact.