Mass General Hospital Seeks State Approval for Inpatient Bed Expansion Amid Capacity Crisis

Massachusetts General Hospital is seeking state approval to add 94 inpatient beds to address chronic overcrowding, with the hospital operating at "Capacity Disaster" status nearly every day since September. The request comes as patients are being treated in hallways and cubicles due to a lack of available beds, leading to prolonged wait times. The hospital's president acknowledges the complexity of the issue and emphasizes the need for a multifaceted solution. However, the expansion plan is likely to face opposition, given past criticism and concerns about cost and patient care.