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Western Mass. Medical Leader Says Region's Hospitals Have Adequate Capacity

Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts
Don Treeger
/
The Republican / Masslive
Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts

The top doctor at a Springfield, Massachusetts, medical facility said the region has enough capacity to treat patients for COVID-19 and other illnesses — at least for now.

Dr. Robert Roose, who is the chief medical officer at Mercy Medical Center, said he takes part in daily calls with other hospitals in western Massachusetts: Baystate, Holyoke Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson in Northampton and Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

Participants review how many beds each institution has available.

"Thankfully, we have not needed to transfer any patients to alternate facilities or to other hospitals within or outside of the region," Roose said. "So while our hospitalized cases remain high, we are managing very well."

Roose said the number of hospitalized patients with the coronavirus at Mercy has gone up in the week. And he said a more contagious variant of COVID-19, which is now present in the state, could lead to more cases.

He said an increase in infections could continue well into the summer unless people remain vigilant and the vaccine campaign is successful.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.
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