BOSTON — On June 2, Boston Hope Medical Center, the state’s largest and most expensive field hospital closed.
The final two patients treated there for COVID-19 were released to applause.
HEARTWARMING 💙 68-year-old Joseph Murphy from East Weymouth was one of the last two patients released from the Boston Hope field hospital. Staff members celebrated his victory over COVID-19 with applause and by singing his favorite songs. boston25.com/36V1PGy
Posted by Boston 25 News on Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced his administration was again planning on “standing-up” field hospitals, though he gave no dates or possible sites.
Dr. Gregg Miller, a radiologist with Atrius Health who volunteered to work at Boston Hope, said if asked to do it again, he would.
“My gut instinct is absolutely, no question about it,” Miller told Boston 25 News.
Miller calls the experience of working at the field hospital during the pandemic incredible and one he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
It wasn’t without challenges, at the outset, there were no interpreters and few of the patients he saw spoke English.
“(There was) a lot of fatigue buildup just dealing with very basic tasks to make sure patients were treated very appropriately, (and) effectively,” Miller added.
His concern is the staffing challenges that may arise recruiting doctors, nurses and other providers to field hospitals this fall since all medical offices are open today, and they were not in the spring.
“There were opportunities for health care providers to step up to the plate and volunteer realizing that it wasn’t going to have a major impact on their own practices,” Miller explained.
Sharon Rudinski is a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department of UMass Memorial in Worcester which she calls an amazing experience.
She says the hospital was “isolating” for patients who wanted to see and speak with their loved ones.
“Covid patients don’t get many visitors but at the DCU Center it was an open arena,” Rudinski said.
She also says she is concerned with the ability to staff field hospitals as before, but following the governor’s comments, UMass Memorial has heard from traveling professionals such as X-ray technicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists who helped before, some from as far as Texas.
As 25 Investigates first reported, the state will announce more on-field hospitals later in the week, according to a spokesperson for the COVID-19 Command Center.
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