Overcrowded Boston ER struggles to fit 152 patients in 61 rooms
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital emergency department in Boston was caring for 152 patients while only 61 acute-care rooms were available, forcing beds into hallways.
Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital opened its current emergency department building in 2022, but by 2025 the space proved insufficient. One September evening the department had 59 patients inside the treatment area and a waiting room crowd that brought the total to 152 individuals. With only 61 rooms designated for acute care, physician Christopher Baugh explained that the department cannot physically host that many patients.
To make room, beds were arranged in every available spot, encircling the central workstations, and even the hallway beds featured Star Wars characters R2-D2 and C-3PO. The scene reflects the growing pressure on emergency services in the city.
Why it matters
It highlights how limited hospital capacity can jeopardize emergency care quality and patient safety.
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