Health clinics see spike in patients after Carney Hospital closure
Local health clinics are experiencing a surge in patients following Steward Health Care’s closure of Carney Hospital in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, putting a strain on staff and resources.”We’ve had a spike in patients coming. It’s been a little lumpy,” said Dr. Guy Fish, CEO of Codman Square Health Center. “Some days like Mondays and Tuesdays particularly earlier in the week, we’ve found up to a 40 percent increase in our patient volume.” Codman Square Health Center, located about a mile from the former Carney Hospital, has seen a significant rise in patient numbers since the hospital’s closure two weeks ago.On days when the urgent care facility would typically treat 65 patients, it is now caring for closer to 90. Fish said that has put stress on his staff and forced a redesign of where patients are first screened.This increase has stressed the health center’s staff and forced them to relocate triage closer to the front door.”Now we have to bring triage out and staff that and equip that. These are things that were not contemplated in our budget,” Fish said. Additionally, staff are calling 911 more frequently to transport the most serious cases to the fully equipped emergency room at Boston Medical Center.An ambulance has been stationed outside Carney Hospital since its closure to assist with patient transport. State health officials say it has transported a total of 31 patients.Signs on the door of the former Carney Hospital direct patients to Milton Hospital, which also reports an increase in patient numbers but has not disclosed specific figures.Meanwhile, an online auction to sell off the medical equipment from Carney and Nashoba Valley Medical Center is underway and is expected to be complete by next Tuesday.
Local health clinics are experiencing a surge in patients following Steward Health Care’s closure of Carney Hospital in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, putting a strain on staff and resources.
“We’ve had a spike in patients coming. It’s been a little lumpy,” said Dr. Guy Fish, CEO of Codman Square Health Center. “Some days like Mondays and Tuesdays particularly earlier in the week, we’ve found up to a 40 percent increase in our patient volume.”
Codman Square Health Center, located about a mile from the former Carney Hospital, has seen a significant rise in patient numbers since the hospital’s closure two weeks ago.
On days when the urgent care facility would typically treat 65 patients, it is now caring for closer to 90. Fish said that has put stress on his staff and forced a redesign of where patients are first screened.
This increase has stressed the health center’s staff and forced them to relocate triage closer to the front door.
“Now we have to bring triage out and staff that and equip that. These are things that were not contemplated in our budget,” Fish said.
Additionally, staff are calling 911 more frequently to transport the most serious cases to the fully equipped emergency room at Boston Medical Center.
An ambulance has been stationed outside Carney Hospital since its closure to assist with patient transport. State health officials say it has transported a total of 31 patients.
Signs on the door of the former Carney Hospital direct patients to Milton Hospital, which also reports an increase in patient numbers but has not disclosed specific figures.
Meanwhile, an online auction to sell off the medical equipment from Carney and Nashoba Valley Medical Center is underway and is expected to be complete by next Tuesday.
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