WORCESTER, Mass. - The number of COVID-19 patients at the DCU Center field hospital have continued to go down and stay down.
Now, the facility is scaling back both its staffing effort and patient capacity.
Starting Monday, the Commonwealth's only COVID-19 field hospital will be capped at 60 patients. That's down from its current capacity of 75 patients.
"It's not as busy as our busiest, but we still see several admissions a day and we are still hearing the recovery bell ring as people get out and go home." said Dr. John Broach, Medical Director at the DCU Center field hospital.
Over the last few weeks, the facility's patient count has consistently been in the teens or single digits. Since its early December deployment, they've care for a total of 630 patients. "It feels good to get out and hopefully we start to end this." said Dr. Broach.
As contracts for traveling nurses and other staff expire, the team at the field hospital has mixed emotions. But, the need for less staff means less people are getting sick. "It has been a great experience and great environment. It's sad to see everyone go their own ways at the end of this but its a good thing." said Pete Lancette, associate chief nursing officer at the DCU Center field hospital.
The staff will be switching gears to help administer COVID-19 vaccines.
"We have been focusing on our care and testing and now we are really focusing on the vaccination effort." said Lancette.
As of Friday morning, the field hospital is only caring for 13 patients. State health leaders will continue to assess the future of the hospital as coronavirus trends change.
