UMass Memorial working to set up another COVID field hospital

Photo | Grant Welker Twice during the coronavirus pandemic, the DCU Center in Worcester -- typically home to events and conventions -- was used as an emergency field hospital.

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By Grant Welker

UMass Memorial Health Care is working with state officials on plans for potentially opening a field hospital in Worcester as was done during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring at the DCU Center.

Dr. Eric Dickson, UMass Memorial's president and CEO, said in a statement Wednesday that the health system is prepared to set the field hospital back up again if asked to do so.

"As mentioned, when we decommissioned the field hospital last spring, we fully anticipated having to ramp it up once more," Dickson said. "The current situation calls for us to use every option possible to beat back this second surge.”

Gov. Charlie Baker and hospital officials talked on Tuesday about steps needed to treat a rising number of coronavirus cases, including potentially using field hospitals again, the State House News Service reported. In the spring, the state had field hospitals in Worcester, Boston, Lowell and Dartmouth, along with another on Cape Cod established but never utilized.

"Our experience from last spring shows that creating enough space to safely treat COVID-19 patients and other patients throughout our healthcare system is the single most important aspect we have in navigating the pandemic as safely as possible, and being prepared for every scenario is critical," Baker said, according to the State House News Service.

Massachusetts' seven-day average of new cases has topped 1,000 for 17 straight days through Tuesday, reaching levels last seen in April and May. The state's test positivity rate has also risen as another warning sign, with a rate reported on Tuesday of 2.6%, the highest since June, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The state's number of confirmed cases through Tuesday is 169,976.

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester had 32 inpatient coronavirus cases as of Nov. 1, the most recent date available. It stopped allowing visitors to its University Campus beginning Tuesday night.