UPDATE 2:36 p.M. APRIL 13: By 6 p.m. Monday, the Las Vegas Valley’s new Isolation and Quarantine Complex at Cashman Center will start taking in new patients.
The facility is designed to help the county’s most vulnerable population fight COVID-19.
Construction started on what they’re calling the ISO-Q complex on March 31. Now that it’s up and ready to go, it can house and isolate up to 500 homeless people.
“We wanted to make sure we had a space that was dedicated for the homeless,” said Councilman Cedric Crear.
The facilities are designed as a preemptive medical facility for our region’s homeless.
RELATED: 13 Helps a coronavirus guide
“This particular site is actually the first of its kind in the country. This is a pre-hospital acute observation site versus most of the other field hospitals around the country (which) are overflow hospitals from the actual hospital itself,” said Dr. Marc O Griofa, ISO-Q’s Medical Director.
Tents are separated by patient status to avoid cross contamination. A green tent will host patients who don’t have symptoms but have been exposed to COVID-19.
A yellow tent will host patients who are symptomatic but haven’t tested positive for the virus. A red tent will host patients who test positive for COVID-19.
There are mobile showers, bathrooms, WiFi, and medical supplies on site.
Medical Personnel and volunteers will staff the tents. They’re tasked with identifying and supporting the most vulnerable patients.
“This is an at-risk vulnerable patient population, we’re trying to give the best support possible to ensure these patients are not out dying on the streets,” said Dr. O Griofa.
Patients in need of care at the ISO-Q complex will be transported by ambulance. They will need a referral from an area medical provider or the Southern Nevada Health District.
If a person becomes seriously ill or needs a ventilator, they will be transferred for hospital care.
Security is on site to ensure there are no visitors.
Organizers say they’re keeping the inside of the Cashman Field facility clear in case they need the space for a pop-up overflow hospital for the general public. If you’re interested in volunteering at the ISO-Q facility, call 702-229-CARE. Mission Staffing is in charge of staffing the facilities.
STAY UP TO DATE: Continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic
UPDATE 10:48 A.M. APRIL 13: The City of Las Vegas is giving the media a tour of the ISO-Q complex at Cashman Field before it opens at 6 p.m. on Monday. Kelsey McFarland is there, follow her on Twitter at @KelseyMarie_TV and check back for updates.
We will soon get a first look inside the new quarantine center at Cashman Field- it is designed to house and isolate up to 350 homeless people. Will have mobile showers, porta potties, etc. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/3SML7fz01l
— Kelsey McFarland (@KelseyMarie_TV) April 13, 2020
UPDATE APRIL 7: The City of Las Vegas is looking to hire medical professionals and support staff for the Cashman Isolation-Quarantine Complex (ISO-Q) this week.
Positions are temporary and there are a broad range of needs in the medical field. To inquire about temporary medical positions available call 702-229-CARE (2273).
For temporary non-medical positions, apply online here:
More from the City of Las Vegas:
Qualified medical staff, health care para-professionals, and support personnel are needed for the 24-hour-care facility. Compassionate team members skilled in clinical observation and patient support are key to the success of this effort. Nursing staff; allied health professionals; case workers, housekeeping, food distribution and custodial staff; and facility monitors are all encouraged to apply for these temporary positions.
...
Patient care units include quarantine for persons exposed to coronavirus; isolation for persons experiencing symptoms; and, isolation for patients with confirmed positive cases of coronavirus. Measures are in place to prevent cross-contamination between patient care groups. A medical director is assigned to oversee clinical care. In addition to clinical medical staff, the ISO-Q will be staffed with teams dedicated to sanitation and infectious disease control, patient care and feeding, supplies and operations, data collection and discharge planning.
UPDATE APRIL 5: The following is a joint statement from Clark County and the City of Las Vegas updating the status of the Cashman Isolation-Quarantine Complex:
We were overly optimistic with our original timeline for the opening of the Cashman Isolation-Quarantine Complex (Cashman ISO-Q). This is a multi-million-dollar construction project that will be staffed by more than 100 healthcare professionals, operations staff, security and volunteers to provide around-the-clock care for hundreds of homeless individuals who need to be in isolation or quarantine. To our knowledge, the Cashman ISO-Q Complex is the first preemptive observation care facility for the homeless in the country, meaning it is the first facility created to provide beds and care for those who are well enough to recover at home but who do not have a home to go to. Without this facility those homeless individuals would be on the streets or in homeless shelters, both of which would put our community at risk for increased transmission of the coronavirus. While we have seen tremendous progress during the past seven days, it took slightly longer than expected to find staff, train them and get them all the protective and other equipment they need. We are hoping to open the center the week of April 6.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Construction began this morning on a new isolation and quarantine center capable of serving at least 350 homeless individuals at the Cashman Center in downtown Las Vegas.
The new complex is expected to open at 6 p.m. on April 6.
Clark County and the city of Las Vegas are partnering to build and operate the Cashman ISO-Q Complex (ISO-Q is short for Isolation-Quarantine), which will be accessed off of Washington Avenue just east of Las Vegas Boulevard.
The complex will facilitate the care of the homeless in that area.
When complete, the complex will have separate areas for people who are quarantined because they were exposed to the coronavirus, an isolation area for those who test positive and have symptoms, and an isolation area for those who test positive but have no symptoms.
Clark County is overseeing and funding construction of the facility, and the city will oversee operations and security. The two local governments will jointly fund the complex. Exactly how long it remains in place will be determined at a later date.
“This complex will give the homeless a safe and secure place to receive the care they need to get healthy,” County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick said. “This facility will reduce the number of visits to our emergency rooms and help protect our most vulnerable population.”
“Care for the homeless through this pandemic continues to be of great concern for the city of Las Vegas,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “We are working with county and state officials to stay ahead of the expected needs for medical care.”
“We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of our local shelter providers, the Southern Nevada Health District and a myriad of local businesses and residents who are using their expertise and efforts to care for our community,” said Ward 5 Councilman Cedric Crear. “We are indeed, #VegasStrong.”
The Cashman ISO-Q Complex will be a controlled-access facility for homeless people in need of quarantine or isolation -- asymptomatic homeless who need to be quarantined because they have been exposed to the coronavirus, as well as those homeless who are recovering from the virus but still need to be in isolation with medical monitoring by a nurse. American Medical Response will provide transportation for those diagnosed with the virus who have referrals from area hospitals or the Southern Nevada Health District. Those in need of quarantine will need a referral from a local shelter partner. Transportation for asymptomatic homeless persons with referrals from area shelters has not been finalized. Hospitals will continue to provide care for the seriously ill in need of a ventilator.
The complex will have an entrance at the stoplight on Washington Avenue across from the Grant Sawyer Building. Each tent will have an administration area with staff and security. People will not be allowed to wander through; only assigned staff/contract staff and homeless with the appropriate referral will be allowed to enter. Allied Security and city of Las Vegas deputy marshals will control access.
Workers with local contractor Vision Building Systems began building the temporary facility this morning, which will hold a minimum of 350 beds, half for isolation and half for quarantine.
The city of Las Vegas will provide perimeter fencing to limit access, potable water and sewer connection. There will be separate sleeping and restroom facilities for those in quarantine and those in isolation; there will separate staff restrooms for those serving each population. Contractors will be used to supply meals to patients (prepared off-site), as well as for trash/medical waste disposal, laundry, security and personal protective equipment. Not all of the contracts are in place at this time. There will be no communal dining and patients will be expected to maintain appropriate social distancing.
Construction is underway on a new isolation and quarantine center capable of serving at least 350 homeless people in downtown Las #Vegas. #ClarkCounty and the @CityOfLasVegas are partnering on the ISO-Q complex, which should be ready by Apr. 6. #COVID19 #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/aAXesjWw7H
— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) March 31, 2020
