Last week, Monroe County outlined a plan should local hospitals face a surge in patients. Phase four of the plan would create a field hospital to care for non-critical patients.
The Dome Arena in Henrietta is one of several sites being considered as a potential location for a field hospital. Last Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineers, along with county and state leaders, toured the facility.
"I was impressed with the collaboration of all the departments and they looked at everything, the power, the water, lighting. They spent several hours going through the blueprints just seeing what and how they would create a scenario of a hospital at this site," said Jeff Calkins, general manager at the Dome Arena.
Calkins says should they get the call, they're ready for the Army Corps of Engineers to convert the newly remodeled sports venue into a field hospital.
"We have this opportunity to help and the ownership of the Dome Arena and myself and my background, that's sort of deep in our bones, it's our M.O. said Calkins.
Creating a field hospital would require additional support from the state and federal governments. The goal though is to avoid a local surge in patients and that's why county leaders continue to push and stress the need for social distancing.