Hospitals preparing, stocking up for pope weekend

UNIVERSITY CITY (WPVI) -- At least a handful of hospitals are in the traffic box established for the papal visit.

Penn Medicine has three.

So, they have been planning ahead to make sure they're ready to take care of all patients as they would any other weekend.

There are a lot of things to think about. The chief medical officer says it's like planning for the worst snow storm. They have to have enough staff and supplies ready and available to last four days.

From medical supplies, medication, and staffing, Dr. P.J. Brennan, Chief Medical Officer for Penn Medicine, says plans are underway to make sure all three Penn hospitals in the traffic box during the Papal visit will be ready.

The immediate consideration is staffing.

"We have mapped all of our workforce to understand where they live, what their proximity is to our hospitals," Dr. Brennan said.

Aside from who can walk or bike to work, he expects 1,500 workers will stay at the hospitals.

"We will be fully staffed for all the services," he said. "Then if we need to surge, then we'll bring in additional people."

The pharmacy will have at least a 4-day supply of medications. The same goes for other necessary supplies, including food and clean linens.

Dr. Brennan expects the number of patients will go down going into the weekend, but will go up as millions come to see the pope on the parkway.

Dr. Brennan tells us, "We're not all that far from the parkway and the events that are going to occur so I expect many people will find their way particularly to Pennsylvania Hospital downtown."

The hospitals also typically deliver about 100 babies per weekend. So the chief of OB/GYN, Dr. Deborah Driscoll, is working with all pregnant patients due around the pope's visit.

Dr. Driscoll explains, "We will be looking at everyone's individual obstetrical history and where they live, making sure that they are comfortable with their care plan."

Dr. Brennan added, "We need to stay open, we need to deliver care at the same level that we do any other day of the year, that the pope isn't here."

There are other considerations as well, such as translation services and what to do with trash.