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mucifer

(23,374 posts)
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 06:28 AM Apr 2020

The Navy hospital ship supposed to aid a struggling New York floats largely unused and idle

Such were the expectations for the Navy hospital ship U.S. Naval Ship Comfort that when it chugged into New York Harbor this week, throngs of people, momentarily forgetting the strictures of social distancing, crammed together along Manhattan’s west side to catch a glimpse.

On Thursday, though, the huge white vessel, which officials had promised would bring succor to a city on the brink, sat mostly empty, infuriating local hospital executives. The ship’s 1,000 beds are largely unused, its 1,200-member crew mostly idle.

Only three patients had been transferred to the ship, officials said, even as New York hospitals struggled to find space for the thousands infected with the coronavirus. Another Navy hospital ship, the U.S. Naval Ship Mercy, docked in Los Angeles, has had a total of 15 patients, officials said.

“If I’m blunt about it, it’s a joke,” said Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York’s largest hospital system. “Everyone can say, ‘Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls.’ But we’re in a crisis here, we’re in a battlefield.”


https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-navy-ship-comfort-accepting-few-patients-20200403-f4soey473rablhqm7nvwetsa3q-story.html

I just want to point out this is an article from The Chicago Tribune. I am Still very pissed off in 2016 they endorsed the libertarian for President. I wonder how proud they are of that decision.
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The Navy hospital ship supposed to aid a struggling New York floats largely unused and idle (Original Post) mucifer Apr 2020 OP
Probably only for the 1% nt RandiFan1290 Apr 2020 #1
Didn't the same thing happen in Puerto Rico malaise Apr 2020 #2
Yes, it did. Girard442 Apr 2020 #3
Not very comforting malaise Apr 2020 #9
Why? Why aren't they being used? jmg257 Apr 2020 #4
It was my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong...) EarthFirst Apr 2020 #5
Yes, take accident victims, heart attacks, appendix, gall bladder patients to the ship. 3Hotdogs Apr 2020 #6
Strictly MFM008 Apr 2020 #7
This isn't too surprising for two reasons: FBaggins Apr 2020 #8

Girard442

(6,059 posts)
3. Yes, it did.
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 07:11 AM
Apr 2020

I think the strategy to use the Comfort to treat non-coronavirus cases to take the load off the existing facilities was not a bad idea, but you actually have to do it. It's beginning to look like they're not.

EarthFirst

(2,877 posts)
5. It was my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong...)
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 07:18 AM
Apr 2020

That the USNS Comfort mission in NYC was to offer a flex option to the overburdened system to offer emergency services that would ordinarily be tasked by the ER; however unable to handle due to the COVID surge.

3Hotdogs

(12,210 posts)
6. Yes, take accident victims, heart attacks, appendix, gall bladder patients to the ship.
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 07:32 AM
Apr 2020

Keep them away from C-19 patients.

MFM008

(19,782 posts)
7. Strictly
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 07:47 AM
Apr 2020

For maggots re election photo OP.
Like the big July 4 party for himself
Last year....
All for show. That one shot of him
With all the flags and the ship in the background
To appeal to the suckers.

FBaggins

(26,697 posts)
8. This isn't too surprising for two reasons:
Fri Apr 3, 2020, 08:19 AM
Apr 2020

They initially decided to use it as an overflow for non-COVID cases (plus some other exclusions like labor and delivery). The thought being that the ship is best suited for trauma patients. But implementing that means that someone in an ambulance needs to be taken toa hospital first, then tested to make sure that he's negative for COVID 19, then reassigned to the ship (and transferred there). My understanding is that the governor just requested that the Javits center overflow hospital be shifted from something similar to just taking COVID patients. The same thing may happen for the Comfort.

The other thing to realize is that the IHME projection is for the NY system to need about 25,000 more beds a week from now than it needs today AND about two weeks from now. Some of those beds are going to be in hallways and closets, but some of temporary beds will only be used at the peak, and they aren't there yet.

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