Lessons Learned for Orthopaedic Care Within the NYC COVID Epicenter Using the United States Naval Ship Comfort

J Orthop Trauma. 2020 Sep;34(9):e330-e335. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001861.

Abstract

Although elective surgeries and in-person office visits were greatly reduced during the COVID-19 crisis, orthopaedic surgeons continue to play a critical role in caring for both orthopaedic and nonorthopaedic problems during this pandemic. Orthopaedic departments provide the ability to off-load emergency departments of orthopaedic issues, redeploy staff to areas of need across the hospital system, and provide direct care to COVID-19 patients. The following will discuss the experience of a large academic orthopaedic surgery department within the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to redeployment of human capital and unique resources such as the United States Naval Ship Comfort as well as our recommended strategy for handling future disaster situations.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Emergency Medical Services / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Military Personnel*
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Orthopedics / organization & administration*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Ships*