Behind The Scenes At NJ's First Pop-Up Hospital, In Secaucus

SECAUCUS, NJ — The state has planned for four "pop-up" hospitals to open in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but the first one to open is the Secaucus location, which is on track for a soft opening this Monday, April 6, according to the state health department.

In fact, Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez were in Secaucus Thursday for a brief, 20-minute tour of the hospital, located at the Meadowlands Expo Center.

The 250-bed hospital should be ready to take patients Monday, said Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of New Jersey State Police, who was also on site Thursday.

Is it for covid patients?

The hospital is not meant to take coronavirus/covid-19 patients. These field hospitals are designed to handle all other hospital cases and meant to clear regular hospitals so they can handle covid-19 patients only.

The Secaucus site will assist surrounding North Jersey hospitals that are already at capacity due to coronavirus. As of Thursday, four hospitals in North and Central Jersey are on divert status due to being at full capacity with patients, coronavirus or otherwise. Outside of New York City, North Jersey, particularly Bergen County, is the hardest hit area in the nation.

However, a nurse who was just hired to work at the Secaucus field hospital said she was told by those who hired her not to rule out the chance that she may be caring for covid positive patients.

"It looked like a good opportunity to help that also pays well," ER nurse Kathleen De Leon told Patch, when asked why she applied for the job. "I always try to keep busy. Since I live in Bergen County it’s not too far from me. I’m not too concerned about the exposure of covid patients since I have already been working in the ER with many covid patients."

State health officials did not rule out the possibility that some covid cases may appear there.

"As we begin it will be for non-covid but it may take individuals with respiratory symptoms who have not tested positive," said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. "Just in case we will have plans to cohort appropriately."

Callahan also warned the Secaucus field hospital could be ramped up for intensive care use.

Murphy thanks Army for setting up hospital

The other two field hospitals will be located in Edison and Atlantic City; they are currently under construction. A location for a fourth field hospital has not yet been determined; it was going to be located in Monmouth County, but that plan has been folded into the Edison location, which will hold 500 beds, more than the Secaucus site.

The Secaucus field hospital will be run by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who set up the entire site in as quickly as seven days.

Murphy called it an “extraordinary effort” to build the hospital.

"Of course, this is only the end of the beginning as opposed to the beginning of the end,” Murphy said to a room of workers Thursday. “God bless you all and thank you for everything you’ve done to get this going.”

What's it like inside? Watch a video from the National Guard taken at the site: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NJ-NG?fbclid=IwAR0PA5NAGfLIiicMzqzxc2wvb-99E7fej9AdNPfBimO4QPD6-htMQUqfu2g

Rows of one-bed units are set up in blocks inside the exposition center. The beds look similar to Army cots and each has a white curtain for privacy. Gov. Murphy, looking inside one of the units, said it looks like a “very basic setup.” Workers also outfitted the center with a temporary pharmacy, showers, sinks, toilets, nurse’s station and break room for health care workers.

It was built by Major Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division.

On his way out of the tour, Murphy praised Millhorn and his team.

“At some point when I can I’m going to give you a hug, but I can’t do that today,” Murphy said.

Four hospitals on divert status:

As of Thursday evening, four New Jersey hospitals that are on divert status (meaning they are at capacity and cannot accept new patients):

• Clara Maass Medical Center in Essex County
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Union County
• St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic County
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

Additional on-site reporting provided by Dustin Racioppi, Statehouse reporter for NorthJersey.com.