Photo | Grant Welker
Equipment was delivered to the DCU Center Wednesday to turn the convention center into a coronavirus field hospital.
April 1, 2020
UMass Memorial CEO: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients doubling every 3-4 days
Photo | Grant Welker
UMass Memorial Health Care President and CEO Eric Dickson
By Grant Welker
Enough capacity still remains to care for coronavirus patients in the Worcester area but likely not for long, UMass Memorial Health Care President and CEO Eric Dickson said at the DCU Center on Wednesday, as the convention center began being filled with equipment to become operational as a field hospital.
"We're seeing a doubling of patients about every three to four days in the hospital with COVID-19," Dickson said. "If that doubles one more time, we'll be OK. If it doubles two more times, we'll be OK. If it doubles three more times, we'll be overwhelmed, and that's what New York City is seeing right now.
"We're hopeful the actions we're taking right now with social distancing will start to take hold, and we'll see that doubling rate slow, and we'll [hit our peak] in about two weeks," he said.
Dickson stopped to talk to journalists at the DCU Center as the convention center began receiving shipments of nursing and protective equipment, along with portable showers. Other shipments were due to continue coming in as UMass Memorial, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester city officials and others plan to set up 250 beds to care for less-severe coronavirus patients at the makeshift facility.
[Related: UMass Memorial looking for nursing students to help at DCU Center field hospital]
City Manager Edward Augustus said he thought the process was moving smoothly and quickly considering the complexity, with the logistics of not only beds and respirators but also biowaste and food needs.
The facility may become operational within about three days, officials have said. The extra capacity is expected to be needed in the coming weeks as the number of coronavirus cases expands beyond what hospitals are currently able to provide.
UMass Memorial has also begun looking at other potential sites in Worcester, Dickson said.
"We always plan for the worst and hope for the best," he said. "We hope this is more than enough to handle the load."
[Related: In one week, Worcester County coronavirus cases rose from 73 to 433, as death toll rises to six]
UMass Memorial's Memorial and University Campuses, which are at about 90% capacity for beds, have set up seven specialized intensive care units for coronavirus patients and have two others planned if needed. Saint Vincent has doubled its ICU space. But staffing and equipment limitations are the biggest restriction, Dickson said.
Hospitals have stopped almost all elective procedures and appointments, but still have most of their beds dedicated to patients with other medical needs.
"Our surge [planning] is really for the coronavirus, but we still need to run the hospital for those other things as we have before, and that's been a challenge," Dickson said.
The DCU Center is the first of what are expected to be three such large-scale temporary care facilities in Massachusetts. Lessons learned in Worcester can help shape care elsewhere, Dickson said.
"It's the first center in the state, but it won't be the last," he said.
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