For Immediate Release
March 30, 2020
NHTI to serve as Alternate Care Site
Media site visit will be scheduled in the coming days
Concord, NH – As the COVID-19 virus continues to escalate as a public health risk in New Hampshire, NHTI-Concord’s Community College and the Community College System of NH have been working with hospital partners, local and state officials to stand up an “Alternate Care Site” (ACS) in Concord on the NHTI campus. Medical provider partners include Concord Hospital, LRGHealthcare (Lakes Region General and Franklin Regional Hospitals), the Capital Area Public Health Network, Winnipesaukee Public Health Network, and the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association. The NH Department of Health and Human Services and the NH National Guard are providing support and project facilitation. The goal of the site is to provide space for COVID-19 positive patients who do not require acute care, such as those convalescing or needing isolation, so that hospitals may preserve their capacity for patients needing a higher level of care.
All medical operations are being directed and managed by the partner hospitals. The ACS will only be activated if deemed necessary by the hospitals based on patient volume. The ACS will be located in the following NHTI locations: Sweeney Hall (including the gymnasium, wellness center and student center) and Langley Hall. The site is designed to accommodate up to 300 patients. The ACS will not be a walk-in facility; any patients it accommodates would be first admitted to and transported by the partner hospitals.
“While we hope this site never has to become operational, we stand ready, as a community partner, to provide support and work with health care partners during these difficult times,” said Dr. Gretchen Mullin-Sawicki, NHTI president.
The college had previously shifted course instruction online, with very limited campus-based activity.
Access to parts of the NHTI campus will be restricted to only approved and credentialed personnel from the ACS team. Areas that will have restricted access as of March 30 will include: Sweeney Hall (including the gymnasium, wellness center and student center), and Langley Hall. The campus library will also be closed due to proximity, but will not be utilized as part of the ACS. All college-related functions associated with these facilities are being conducted remotely.
Areas such as the boat launch on the Merrimack River at the Ft. Eddy road entrance to campus will remain open and accessible to the public (who are asked to observe physical distancing at all times). There will be some changes to traffic patterns within the campus and to parking areas available for general use. If the ACS becomes activated, traffic control and security will be provided on a 24/7 basis to ensure anyone coming onto campus will know where they can drive and park.
Representatives from the media will be invited to view the site during week of March 30, at a date and time to be established by the ACS team. Additional information will be sent out with the time and registration information. Registration will be required in order to ensure safety of the participants.
Media Contacts:
CCSNH and NHTI: Shannon Reid, CCSNH Exec. Director of Government Affairs and Communications, [email protected], 603-568-5599
Concord Hospital: Jennifer Dearborn, Director, Public Affairs, [email protected], 603-227-7000 x. 4215
LRGHealthcare: Cass Walker, [email protected]
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association: Andrew Morse, [email protected], 603-224-4093
