State Operations Center Coordinates State and Federal Partners’ Medical Assistance Teams to Imperial County

As efforts continue to combat the coronavirus pandemic throughout California, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) continues to coordinate the deployment of Medical Assistance Teams and truckloads of supplies to Imperial County.

Today, the State Operations Center tasked the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) to mobilize seven trucks carrying essential medical equipment and supplies to support a new 125-bed Field Medical Station (FMS) which will be operational on Monday to Imperial County, which is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases.

An important component of the mobilization is a California Medical Assistance Team (CalMAT) as well teams from the California National Guard (CNG) and American Medical Response (AMR) will arrive by Sunday; their primary mission will be staffing and running the FMS. The FMS will allow community hospitals the much-needed ability to decompress.

This FMS will handle an increased level of advanced-illness patients, as well as serve as pre-positioning for additional needs throughout the region in neighboring counties.

EMSA is also coordinating full wrap-around services with Imperial County and will continue to coordinate and mobilize resources in support of Imperial County in cooperation with state agency partners.

Yesterday, a medical strike team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) along with CNG personnel deployed to the region to support El Centro Hospital.  EMSA deployed an Ambulance Strike Team to support patient transfers from El Centro Hospital, Pioneer Hospital and other regional hospitals.

Over the past 48 hours, approximately 35 patients were transferred out of the county to hospitals in San Diego and Riverside.

The state will continue to provide support to Imperial County and the their public health system to assist in stabilizing medical care in the region.

For more Covid19-related resources go to covid19.c.gov.