Morristown Medical Center Increases Patient Care Capacity

MORRISTOWN, NJ - As novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, began to emerge overseas, the Atlantic Health care teams immediately set about ensuring that their facilities were prepared, officials said.

And now that the positive cases of the coronavirus are popping up in New Jersey, Atlantic Health facilities are ready with negative pressure isolation rooms, taking stock of personal protective equipment and fresh review of all training and protocols related to treating severe respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases.

"As always, Atlantic Health System’s top priority is the safety of our patients, communities and health care professionals," officials said. "Our expert clinicians regularly care for patients with severe respiratory illnesses and other infectious diseases."

Atlantic Health System has a combined 1,836 licensed beds. These beds include those used for a number of specialized medical needs, including cardiac, neuroscience, oncology, pediatrics and more. Each hospital has isolation rooms located throughout its campus, and officials are exploring how to increase the number of those rooms as the situation continues to unfold.

Atlantic Health System is acting proactively to better facilitate care to all of patients, erecting temporary structures at some of their locations to triage patients:

• Morristown Medical Center in partnership with the Morris County Office of Emergency Management and the Morris County Office of Health Management, has built a self-contained, patient triage and assessment system located adjacent to the emergency department on its Madison Avenue campus. The structure has dedicated space for patient evaluations and treatment by qualified medical professionals.
• Hackettstown and Newton Medical Centers have stationed self-contained, patient triage and assessment systems adjacent to the emergency departments – Medical Office Building One at 657 Willow Grove Street in Hackettstown and an Advanced Screening Triage trailer at 175 High Street in Newton. Both structures have dedicated space for patient evaluations and treatment by qualified medical professionals.
• Overlook Medical Center recently stationed a temporary triage structure outside of its emergency department at the Overlook Medical Center Union Campus, to help more efficiently assess patients with concerns for COVID-19 while patients with other medical needs to be seen expeditiously. The 8-by-40-foot open container office, similar in structure to a shipping container, was stationed at the Union Campus on Wednesday and is operational. An additional, 20-by-40-foot tent-like structure will be erected at Overlook Medical Center’s main campus, in Summit.
• Chilton Medical Center is preparing to erect a 35-by-19-foot tent structure outside its emergency department for similar purposes later this week.

Here's what else you should know:

• Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he planned to shut down all schools on Wednesday, March 18. Read more: NJ Schools Will Close Due To Coronavirus Outbreak: Gov. Murphy
• Murphy also imposed new statewide restrictions on Monday, March 16, shutting restaurants, casinos, bars and gyms. Read more: NJ Coronavirus: Bars, Restaurants, Theaters To Shut

• State health officials said they believe the virus is "community-spread" in New Jersey. "Community-spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us," Persichilli announced. Read more: Coronavirus May Be 'Community-Spread' In NJ
• Schools and colleges across the state continued to cancel classes, move classes online and prepare for an outbreak that could get worse. Read more: Coronavirus NJ School Closures: Here's The Latest (UPDATE)
• Murphy has declared a state of emergency, which allows his administration to expand its powers to treat the illness. Read more: NJ Gov. Murphy Declares State Of Emergency Because Of Coronavirus
• The first person in New Jersey to die of the coronavirus was reported on Tuesday, March 10. Read more: First NJ Coronavirus Death, 4 New Cases: Governor
• The second person in New Jersey to die because of the illness was announced on Saturday, March 14. Read more: 2nd Death Due To Coronavirus In New Jersey
• State health officials have issued a long list of coronavirus outbreak guidelines for New Jersey schools and colleges now that the number of cases continues to climb in the United States and across the Garden State. Read more: NJ Issues New Coronavirus Guidelines For Schools, Colleges (UPDATE)
• New Jersey's courts suspended all new jury trials until further notice, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said on Thursday, March 12. Read more: Coronavirus Throws Monkey Wrench Into New Jersey Court System
• The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission also extended expiration dates for driver licenses, registrations and inspection stickers. Read more: NJ Driver's License Changes Because Of Coronavirus Outbreak
• Murphy recommended on Thursday, March 12 that gatherings of 250 people or more should be canceled. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Should Cancel Large Gatherings Due To Coronavirus
• Hospitals also issued additional restrictions to visitors. Read more: New Hospital Restrictions In NJ Coronavirus Outbreak
• Compiled by Johns Hopkins University, this interactive map lets you track confirmed coronavirus cases in real time. Read more: Coronavirus Tracker: Latest Numbers In New Jersey
• Bayer has closed their Morristown and Whippany locations until further notice. Read more: Pharmaceutical Giant Closes NJ Offices Amidst Coronavirus Concern
• PSE&G is giving financially struggling customers a break in "the interest of protecting public health." Read more: PSEG Stops Gas, Electric Shut-Offs As NJ Copes With Coronavirus
• State Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced on Saturday, March 14 that municipal court sessions will be suspended for two weeks, beginning Monday, March 16, to mitigate public exposure to COVID-19 coronavirus.
• Teaneck's mayor urged his community to self-quarantine since cases in his town rose to 18. Read more: Teaneck Mayor Urges Town To Self-Quarantine From Coronavirus
• Ocean County health officials said a pregnant Toms River woman tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more: Pregnant Toms River Woman Is Positive For Coronavirus: County

How It Spreads

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.
There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19.
While the best way to prevent illness is to avoid virus exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention always recommends taking preventive actions to contain the spread of viruses.

This includes:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Residents who have questions about the virus can contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222. The hotline is home of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, and is staffed 24 hours a day by state health workers.

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