Grove Hill (Ala.) Memorial Hospital is adding a new $3.75 million, 4,500-sf emergency department that will house nine exam and treatment rooms, a two-bay trauma room, expanded waiting area, and direct access to operating rooms within the hospital.
During several months of construction that started last November, Grove Hill couldn’t shut down its existing ED because it’s the only one serving Clark County. And the hospital’s administration determined that converting unutilized space into a temporary ED would be too costly.
The project’s architect, Paul Fridl of Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, suggested an economical alternative: a mobile ED. The hospital contacted Carolina HealthCare Systems, whose Carolinas MED-1 unit for more than a decade has provided temporary patient care after natural disasters or when a hospital’s infrastructure breaks down.
MED-1 travels as two 53-foot tractor trailers. It is completely self-sustaining for the first 72 hours, using generators or local shore power.
The mobile unit comprises a 1,000-sf patient care component that is equipped and staffed to manage minor to severe emergency medical conditions; six critical-care beds with built-in cardiac monitors; full trauma surgery and anesthesia capabilities; ED acute care beds; and a dental/EENT chair. Other medical equipment—like X-ray, ultrasound, I-stat laboratory, and IV pumps—are available.
Grove Hill would prove to be MED-1’s longest stint: more than seven months. This was also the first time the mobile unit would be set up as a “permanent temporary” ED, says Brian Hale, Senior Project Manager with Robins & Morton, the GC and construction manager on the project.
Robins & Morton built a lighted, fire-sprinkler-equipped vestibule, with fire and smoke detectors, to connect the mobile unit to the existing hospital. It hooked MED-1 up to the hospital’s water supply, and replaced the ramps.
This had never been done before in Alabama, and “there were no applicable codes,” says Hale. It required creative problem-solving to overcome issues like how to wire MED-1 to the local power grid.
Read about more innovations from BD+C's 2016 Great Solutions Report
Related Stories
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 27, 2023
BD+C's 2023 Design Innovation Report
Building Design+Construction’s Design Innovation Report presents projects, spaces, and initiatives—and the AEC professionals behind them—that push the boundaries of building design. This year, we feature four novel projects and one building science innovation.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
Reinforced concrete walls and fins stiffen and shade the National Bank of Kuwait skyscraper
When the National Bank of Kuwait first conceived its new headquarters more than a decade ago, it wanted to make a statement about passive design with a soaring tower that could withstand the extreme heat of Kuwait City, the country’s desert capital.
Design Innovation Report | Apr 19, 2023
HDR uses artificial intelligence tools to help design a vital health clinic in India
Architects from HDR worked pro bono with iKure, a technology-centric healthcare provider, to build a healthcare clinic in rural India.
3D Printing | Apr 11, 2023
University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory unveils Shell Wall—a concrete wall that’s lightweight and freeform 3D printed
The University of Michigan’s DART Laboratory has unveiled a new product called Shell Wall—which the organization describes as the first lightweight, freeform 3D printed and structurally reinforced concrete wall. The innovative product leverages DART Laboratory’s research and development on the use of 3D-printing technology to build structures that require less concrete.
Cladding and Facade Systems | Apr 5, 2023
Façade innovation: University of Stuttgart tests a ‘saturated building skin’ for lessening heat islands
HydroSKIN is a façade made with textiles that stores rainwater and uses it later to cool hot building exteriors. The façade innovation consists of an external, multilayered 3D textile that acts as a water collector and evaporator.
Transportation & Parking Facilities | Mar 23, 2023
Amsterdam debuts underwater bicycle parking facility that can accommodate over 4,000 bikes
In February, Amsterdam saw the opening of a new underwater bicycle parking facility. Located in the heart of the city—next to Amsterdam Central Station and under the river IJ (Amsterdam’s waterfront)—the facility, dubbed IJboulevard, has parking spots for over 4,000 bicycles, freeing up space on the street.
Concrete | Jan 24, 2023
Researchers investigate ancient Roman concrete to make durable, lower carbon mortar
Researchers have turned to an ancient Roman concrete recipe to develop more durable concrete that lasts for centuries and can potentially reduce the carbon impact of the built environment.
Sponsored | Resiliency | Dec 14, 2022
Flood protection: What building owners need to know to protect their properties
This course from Walter P Moore examines numerous flood protection approaches and building owner needs before delving into the flood protection process. Determining the flood resilience of a property can provide a good understanding of risk associated costs.
Giants 400 | Nov 14, 2022
4 emerging trends from BD+C's 2022 Giants 400 Report
Regenerative design, cognitive health, and jobsite robotics highlight the top trends from the 519 design and construction firms that participated in BD+C's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
