Mahaffey Tent Rentals has installed a 40-by-66-foot clearspan structure at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., to assist with a flood of patients experiencing flu-like symptoms.
The H1N1 triage unit tent will be up for a minimum of six months, but discussions are underway between Le Bonheur and Mahaffey to extend the rental beyond the scheduled March 2010 takedown date.
“With many emergency rooms already treating twice the number of flu cases than is typical for this time of year, community medical facilities are struggling to cope with the flood of new patients,” says Beth Wilson, Mahaffey’s marketing manager.
“The structure was originally set up on September 11 as a waiting room/holding area for patients. But as the number of patients continued to grow, the tent is now being used as a treatment facility as well,” Wilson adds. Mahaffey also provided event flooring, lighting and two personnel doors to outfit the tent.