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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Navy hospital ship supposed to aid a struggling New York floats largely unused and idle
On Thursday, though, the huge white vessel, which officials had promised would bring succor to a city on the brink, sat mostly empty, infuriating local hospital executives. The ships 1,000 beds are largely unused, its 1,200-member crew mostly idle.
Only three patients had been transferred to the ship, officials said, even as New York hospitals struggled to find space for the thousands infected with the coronavirus. Another Navy hospital ship, the U.S. Naval Ship Mercy, docked in Los Angeles, has had a total of 15 patients, officials said.
If Im blunt about it, its a joke, said Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New Yorks largest hospital system. Everyone can say, Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls. But were in a crisis here, were in a battlefield.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-navy-ship-comfort-accepting-few-patients-20200403-f4soey473rablhqm7nvwetsa3q-story.html
I just want to point out this is an article from The Chicago Tribune. I am Still very pissed off in 2016 they endorsed the libertarian for President. I wonder how proud they are of that decision.
RandiFan1290
(6,237 posts)malaise
(269,054 posts)after the hurricane
Girard442
(6,075 posts)I think the strategy to use the Comfort to treat non-coronavirus cases to take the load off the existing facilities was not a bad idea, but you actually have to do it. It's beginning to look like they're not.
malaise
(269,054 posts)jmg257
(11,996 posts)EarthFirst
(2,900 posts)That the USNS Comfort mission in NYC was to offer a flex option to the overburdened system to offer emergency services that would ordinarily be tasked by the ER; however unable to handle due to the COVID surge.
3Hotdogs
(12,391 posts)Keep them away from C-19 patients.
MFM008
(19,816 posts)For maggots re election photo OP.
Like the big July 4 party for himself
Last year....
All for show. That one shot of him
With all the flags and the ship in the background
To appeal to the suckers.
FBaggins
(26,748 posts)They initially decided to use it as an overflow for non-COVID cases (plus some other exclusions like labor and delivery). The thought being that the ship is best suited for trauma patients. But implementing that means that someone in an ambulance needs to be taken toa hospital first, then tested to make sure that he's negative for COVID 19, then reassigned to the ship (and transferred there). My understanding is that the governor just requested that the Javits center overflow hospital be shifted from something similar to just taking COVID patients. The same thing may happen for the Comfort.
The other thing to realize is that the IHME projection is for the NY system to need about 25,000 more beds a week from now than it needs today AND about two weeks from now. Some of those beds are going to be in hallways and closets, but some of temporary beds will only be used at the peak, and they aren't there yet.