Construction for Highly Infectious Disease unit expected to finish by 2026, JMCGH says
JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson-Madison County General Hospital is constructing a Highly Infectious Disease (HID) unit in response to challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“We are constructing a Highly Infectious Disease unit that will be able to support highly infectious patients in the area of West Tennessee, in response mainly to what we went through with the pandemic with COVID,” said James Fountain, vice president of operations at JMCGH/North Hospital.
During COVID-19, the hospital ran out of negative pressure rooms to treat patients with respiratory diseases, especially in the early stages when the virus was new to everyone.
“So during COVID, we had ran out of negative pressure rooms to treat patients with respiratory diseases, especially in the early stages of COVID when we really didn’t know what we were dealing with. It was new to everyone,” Fountain said. “So, if you remember, at the hospital, we had these large trailers with HVAC units, hoses running up the front of the hospital to pressurize the units [and] care for patients.”
The hospital plans to complete the unit by the end of 2026. The hospital serves as a hub, allowing it to be better prepared and provide improved services for patients, Fountain said.
