NMNG Airmen and Soldiers received, unloaded and inventoried a 250-bed Federal Medical Shelter at the 150th Special Operations Wing hangar and began re-packaging to support both a 50-bed Alternate Care Facility in Gallup, N.M., and a 200-bed ACF at the Gibson location. The Gibson location is currently being set up by New Mexico National Guard medical personnel and will begin seeing patients at a date to be determined. “We divided the FMS up into packages to support Gallup and their 50-bed hospital as well as the 200-bed hospital currently being set up at Gibson,” said Lt. Col. Fred Ginsburg, flight surgeon at the New Mexico National Guard’s 150th Special Operations Wing. “We completed the inventory and are loading packages up on the trucks to be delivered for setup. Our crew previously did the Farmington Federal Medical Shelter package so we are familiar with at least 90% of the equipment we are seeing.” Ginsburg said the packages include everything to physically run a hospital–from cleaning gear to cots, IV equipment, walkers and air (oxygen) supplies. Beds are prepackaged with gown, bedsheet, pillow, blanket and are prepared for when these locations receive patients. “Our Soldiers and Airmen have been working quickly and efficiently to get both these Alternate Care Facilities up and running,” said Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico. “The Gallup ACF will begin receiving patients on April 25. We are working on completing the Gibson location so it is ready when needed. Along with the Farmington ACF, these additional ACFs greatly increase the Governor’s plan to increase medical capacity where needed most during this public health crisis.”
