CHA News

OSHPD Provides Support for Temporary COVID-19 Space on Hospital Campuses

For CEOs, COOs, facilities managers, government relations staff

This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.

CHA has learned from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) that it is available to assist hospitals in making temporary changes to accommodate additional patients during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. For closed or vacant buildings that hospitals have not used due to issues such as seismic safety requirement non-compliance, OSHPD will offer advice and recommendations on how hospitals can temporarily use these buildings as alternate care sites.

Hospitals should contact their OSHPD field office (either Sacramento or Los Angeles) — contact information for both offices is here.

OSHPD also notes that, as recently clarified in All-Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-26.3, released by the California Department of Public Health on July 3, temporary changes of use or modification to the physical environment must be restored to original conditions following the expiration of AFL 20-26.3 on March 1, 2021. If the temporary changes are to be made permanent, projects must be submitted to OSHPD by March 15, 2021. By contrast, permanent changes of use or modifications to the physical environment must be submitted to OSHPD as projects for review and approval.