An or Alternate Care Site (ACS) is a non-traditional medical treatment facility established during public health crises—such as the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters—to expand a healthcare system's capacity. Reviews of these sites generally focus on their operational efficiency, rapid construction, and their role in relieving hospital surge. Operational and Construction Reviews
: Reviews of temporary tent-based ACFs, such as the SUNY Stony Brook site , indicate they can withstand high-wind events (gusts over 60 mph) when properly engineered with helical piles and dedicated drainage. alternate care facility
: Engineering and design teams have described these projects as "intense and stressful" yet "personally and professionally fulfilling" due to the mission-driven solidarity and the ability to deliver "the impossible" under tight deadlines. An or Alternate Care Site (ACS) is a
: Teams have been noted for completing dozens of site assessments in under two weeks. Some shuttered hospitals have been converted into functional ACFs in just three weeks through partnerships between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and private contractors. : Engineering and design teams have described these
Professional and military assessments often highlight the speed and collaborative effort required to establish these facilities: