Mobile emergency department sent to Atrium main, children’s hospitals

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CHARLOTTE — Atrium Health has deployed its mobile hospital to its main and children’s hospitals, the health system announced.

Atrium Health’s Mobile Emergency Department will be deployed to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and Levine Children’s Hospital to help their emergency departments.

Anyone who needs care will still go directly to the emergency room and will be directed by staff from there.

The mobile unit will help treat emergency room patients with minor injuries and illnesses. The goal is to increase emergency department capacity by freeing up bed space.

Patients who may need lab work, medication refills or imaging can be seen in the mobile hospital. Rashes, ear pain, lacerations and minor sprains are other examples of what can be treated there.

The announcement was made as flu and RSV cases continue to spread across the country. Pediatric and adult emergency departments are seeing an increase in patients due to the illnesses, Atrium said.

This will be the second time Atrium has deployed the mobile emergency department to support one of its own facilities in the Charlotte area. In January 2021, it was sent to to Atrium Health Pineville to help with the surge of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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