Nutter Field House now a temporary field hospital

Nutter Field House turns temporary field hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- The conversion of the University of Kentucky football team’s practice facility, Nutter Field House, to a 400-bed field hospital is now complete.

The university says, in preparation for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients in the Commonwealth, UK HealthCare will utilize the hospital if needed. 

UK and UK HealthCare officials have been working for weeks to map scenarios to handle patient care needs across the region. That work has continued in partnership with local officials, Lexington regional hospitals, the State Health Commissioner and Gov. Andy Beshear to address how and where patients would be cared for if the number of COVID-19 patients surges in the future. 

“In a few weeks, UK has a 400-bed field hospital up and ready to go,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “We know a surge of coronavirus cases is coming and, thanks to UK, we’ve taken a huge step forward in readiness.” 

State law allows for emergency purchase procedures to ensure timely completion of projects such as the field hospital. Emergency Disaster Services (EDS), a Lexington-based logistic and emergency support services company, offered the best range of services that could be put in place in such a quick timeframe. EDS also has helped construct and stand up several field hospitals in other states already. 

Models of the trajectory of the virus vary regarding scope and depth of surge, Newman said. In addition, how efforts to “flatten the curve” through social distancing and other measures work will impact the need for a field hospital and other responses. 

Training of patient care staff is expected to begin in the next few days in the fieldhouse where 125,000 square feet of flooring has been laid over the synthetic turf. Partitioned rooms and heavy-duty cots, nurses’ stations, showers and sanitization areas, and a nebulizing station to aid patients with breathing trouble are included in the facility. 

UK Athletics also played a crucial role in converting the facility on UK’s south campus near Kroger Field.