Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s (WRNMMC) Facility Management Department (FMD) has started contingency planning should there be an influx of patients. Areas of the hospital have been evaluated for patient overflow that include rooms where double occupancy can be established. J&J’s O&M team is proactively working to ensure all medical gas lines and nurse calls in these areas are ready and fully functional if needed to support an influx. Additionally, J&J has been tasked with researching and procuring the following items (where needed):

• Ultraviolet (UV) lighting for air handling units
• Air purifiers for patient rooms
• Negative pressure machines

COVID–19 Screening Area: J&J was tasked with supplying temporary power for the area outside of the hospital’s Emergency Room entrance, which included providing additional anchoring for the tent to avoid disruption to service should there be high winds.

Rapid Response Shelters (RRS): Our team also worked with FMD to establish the fueling program for the generators powering the RRS in front of the iconic Tower, Bldg. 1. This is a preemptive measure to assess the ability to rapidly expand the facility in the event of a patient surge. The RRS will have the capacity to serve as a 25–bed hospital in a controlled atmosphere, external to the main hospital. It is our expectation that the RRS will remain in place throughout the peak of the pandemic.

J&J thanks all members of our maintenance and housekeeping teams as they continue to support 24/7 healthcare operations. Please continue to be safe during this emergency response effort.