Facing an increasing and unrelenting overcrowding, Massachusetts General Hospital is asking the state Friday for permission to increase its number of inpatient hospital beds.The hospital is asking the state Department of Public Health to add 94 beds to its overall capacity. The extra beds would be on its existing campus once construction of a new building is complete.MGH officials said the hospital has been operating at what they term "Capacity Disaster" status nearly every day since September. That's when the day starts with more than 45 patients without hospital beds.The capacity problem, according to MGH, starts after patients are seen in the emergency department. With no inpatient beds available, those who need to be admitted to the hospital get stuck — treated in hallways, cubicles and every space available. It's known as "boarding," and for some patients, it can now drag on for days. Last week, MGH said it experienced the most crowded day in its two centuries: 103 patients boarding in the ED.Dr. David F.M. Brown, the president of Mass General, acknowledged the capacity problem is a complex one."Is that a short-term solution to a long-term problem?" 5 Investigates' Brittany Johnson asked."It's part of a multifactorial solution. So there isn't any question that we need more beds here at Mass General Hospital," he said. "At the same time, we need to continue to move patients to lower acuity settings."But the request will almost certainly draw opposition.MGH had to withdraw a much more ambitious expansion plan in 2022 in the face of criticism from the state's Health Policy Commission and others that it would drive the cost of patient care up because the hospital charges patients more than other facilities.More recently, an analyst with the state's Health Policy Commission said MGH helped create the problem by encouraging too many people to choose its hospital care — a point Brown disputed."This isn't a Mass General problem," Brown said. "This is a Massachusetts problem. Every emergency department in the state feels crowded. My colleagues in other health systems in Massachusetts have similar challenges, with patients waiting overnight for beds with trouble getting patients into specialty units that are full."
Facing an increasing and unrelenting overcrowding, Massachusetts General Hospital is asking the state Friday for permission to increase its number of inpatient hospital beds.
The hospital is asking the state Department of Public Health to add 94 beds to its overall capacity. The extra beds would be on its existing campus once construction of a new building is complete.
MGH officials said the hospital has been operating at what they term "Capacity Disaster" status nearly every day since September. That's when the day starts with more than 45 patients without hospital beds.
The capacity problem, according to MGH, starts after patients are seen in the emergency department. With no inpatient beds available, those who need to be admitted to the hospital get stuck — treated in hallways, cubicles and every space available.
It's known as "boarding," and for some patients, it can now drag on for days. Last week, MGH said it experienced the most crowded day in its two centuries: 103 patients boarding in the ED.
Dr. David F.M. Brown, the president of Mass General, acknowledged the capacity problem is a complex one.
"Is that a short-term solution to a long-term problem?" 5 Investigates' Brittany Johnson asked.
"It's part of a multifactorial solution. So there isn't any question that we need more beds here at Mass General Hospital," he said. "At the same time, we need to continue to move patients to lower acuity settings."
But the request will almost certainly draw opposition.
MGH had to withdraw a much more ambitious expansion plan in 2022 in the face of criticism from the state's Health Policy Commission and others that it would drive the cost of patient care up because the hospital charges patients more than other facilities.
More recently, an analyst with the state's Health Policy Commission said MGH helped create the problem by encouraging too many people to choose its hospital care — a point Brown disputed.
"This isn't a Mass General problem," Brown said. "This is a Massachusetts problem. Every emergency department in the state feels crowded. My colleagues in other health systems in Massachusetts have similar challenges, with patients waiting overnight for beds with trouble getting patients into specialty units that are full."
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January 20, 2024 at 12:08AM
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Mass General asking state for permission to expand inpatient beds - WCVB Boston
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