UMass Memorial reopens command center in light of Delta variant, staffing shortage
Photo | Grant Welker
UMass Chan Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center share a campus off Belmont and Plantation streets in Worcester.
UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester announced Wednesday the reopening of its command center, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases, bed closures, and staffing shortages in its announcement.
The command center, which released weekly COVID-19 updates and resources throughout the coronavirus pandemic, will manage operations, track key clinical metrics, and communicate several days per week with updates on the hospital’s progress.
An aggressive recruitment program and increased space for patients are included in the plans for the center, said UMass Memorial president Michael Gustafson in a statement.
Due to the Delta variant, COVID cases are on the rise, with the majority of hospitalizations among the unvaccinated. Additionally, Saint Vincent Hospital closed 100 beds in July due to its ongoing labor dispute with union nurses, pushing more patients to UMass.
These crises are compounded with a nationwide labor shortage leaving more than 400 vacant positions at the medical center, said the statement.
The command center will be open for an indefinite, extended amount of time, Gustafson said in the announcement.
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