The center's supervisor tells me that two of Boston's receiving hospitals are on diversion. And now St. Elizabeth's Hospital is requesting diversion. St. Elizabeth's emergency department attending, a seasoned clinician and trusted colleague, has told the supervisor that he wants to talk to me. I call him. His emergency department is swamped.
Every bay is filled, and several patients are on stretchers in the hallway.
Three intubated patients are boarding in the emergency department because no intensive care beds are available. I hate these phone calls. Most of the time, I have no choice but to tell emergency departments they'll have to suck it up. The response I get is usually far from gracious. I'm often told that I'm putting the patients and staff at risk, or that the situation is too far out of control for the overwhelmed attending to be held responsible for the consequences.