Mass General Hospital is on its way to easing up the pressure in its overcrowded emergency rooms by adding 94 new inpatient beds, a move to address what officials have dubbed a "capacity crisis." In a recent announcement cited by CBS News Boston, the addition was confirmed through an amendment to the hospital's previously approved Determination of Need application. Hospital leaders have painted a dire picture, with some patients reportedly languishing in the ER for days due to a lack of beds.
The new beds are part of a phased approach coinciding with the opening of the Philip and Susan Ragon Building, set to begin in 2027. This strategic move follows an earlier declaration of a capacity disaster by MGH, as inpatient beds and hallway stretchers were overrun on a nearly daily basis, as reported by boston.com. Hospitals statewide are facing similar battles, dealing with staff shortages, hospital closures, and even the repercussions of a major fire.
"Patients are at the center of everything we do throughout all of Mass General Brigham as we work to address the most complex, nuanced healthcare issues facing the communities we serve," Anne Klibanski, president and CEO of Mass General Brigham, told CBS News Boston. Echoing this sentiment, Dr. David Brown, the president of academic medical centers with Mass General Brigham, expressed relief at the recent decision, enabling much-needed inpatient capacity expansion. "Today’s decision will allow for much needed inpatient capacity expansion in the Commonwealth and help our expert clinical teams best care for our patients in environments that promote better healing and respects their dignity," Brown remarked.
Adding to the fray, the state's Public Health Council had previously denied a request to add more beds to Massachusetts General Hospital back in 2022, but the latest approval is a change of heart from the state. As per boston.com, the Ragon Building's development has been significantly bankrolled by a historic $200 million gift from Phillip "Terry" Ragon and his wife, meant to endow a new vaccine research center. With the state's approval, MGH will now add beds instead of relocating them, starting in 2027, without the need for any additional funds, construction, or renovation.
Hospital executives have used what they call "creative" solutions to mitigate the ongoing crisis. According to Marcela del Carmen, president of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, in a statement obtained by CBS News Boston, "Our hospital – and indeed, the entire Mass General Brigham system – has been working towards addressing the capacity crisis in a variety of creative, thoughtful ways to help patients get where they need to be as quickly as possible."
