In preparation for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients in the state of Kentucky, UK Healthcare transformed Kentucky football’s Nutter Field House into a 400-bed hospital.
“As the state’s largest health care provider for advanced sub-specialty and critical care, it is crucial we are prepared for any scenario to ensure that we can meet the needs of our community and the Commonwealth,” said University of Kentucky Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Mark F. Newman. “During this unprecedented crisis, this means coordinating with state and local health care officials in an emergency preparedness plan – a plan that contemplates and prepares for the worst-case scenario … a surge in COVID-19 patients.”
UK announced the completion of the transformation Monday.
“While this crisis has been so difficult for so many, it’s been an incredible thing to see our university and state come together in the face of it,” said UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart. “For us as an athletics department, we were eager to play a small role by making Nutter Field House available for UK HealthCare to continue its work on the front lines of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hope is that the space is never needed, but we are proud to do whatever we can to help.”
