Medical director at DCU Center field hospital getting facility ready to reopen

WORCESTER, Mass. — The DCU Center in Worcester is getting a makeover, again. Back in April it was the first field hospital the state opened to handle the crushing wave of COVID-19 patients.

Dr. John Broach was in charge then and will be, once again, after Governor Charlie Baker announced the field hospital will be reactivated.

“It’s a big task, but we have a great team. You can imagine there’s everything from food and linen to waste removal to patient care to the physical set-up,” Dr. Broach said.

Back in the spring, healthcare workers were in unchartered territory since there was so much unknown about the virus. But seven months later Dr. Broach said much has been discovered about how to better care for coronavirus patients.

“We have a little better sense of how patients progress, just more is known about the disease in general and there are certainly better therapeutic options as well now,” Dr. Broach said.

UMass Memorial Medical Center will once again operate and supply staff to the field hospital. Dr. Broach said they are fully-stocked with personal protection equipment and doesn’t anticipate as much anxiety among healthcare workers.

“There’s much less fear of the unknown this time in terms of how the protocols will look,” he said.

25 Investigates analyzed field hospitals use in the spring. Only about 30 of the 250 beds in Worcester were in use at once during peak. In total, the DCU Center cared for about 225 patients before it was closed down. Up to 240 beds will be made available, if needed, this time around.

“I certainly hope that a lot of this preparation is never needed. I fear that won’t be the case. I want this to be done and people to be healthy again as soon as possible,” Dr. Broach said.

They are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best in Worcester. Dr. Broach said the field hospital is really there for patients who need a lower level of care, so more seriously ill patients can be treated inside the main hospital.

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