USNS Mercy Accepts First Patients in Port of Los Angeles
The ship will provide a wide range of medical care including general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults.
By Michael Tseng ••
NBC Universal, Inc.
(March 29, 2020) Sailors assigned to the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) treat a patient from Los Angeles medical facilities March 29. Mercy deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erwin Jacob Miciano)
The USNS Mercy, a Navy hospital ship docked in the Port of Los Angeles, opened its doors to its first patients Sunday, officials announced.
Requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the USNS Mercy Hospital ship will serve as a referral hospital in LA and carries trained medical workers and resources that will take care of non-COVID-19 related illnesses.
The ship will provide a wide range of medical care including general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults. The ship's purpose is to ease the burden on area hospitals dealing with the growing coronavirus pandemic. As of Sunday, LA County had more than 2,100 confirmed cases of the virus.
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Aerial view of the Hospital ship USNS Mercy docked at Naval Base San Diego on March 20, 2020 in San Diego, California. California (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Sarah Burford-U.S. Navy via Getty Images
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) takes on supplies, March 20, 2020, at Naval Base San Diego. (Photo by Sarah Burford-U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Sarah Burford-U.S. Navy via Getty Images
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) takes on supplies, March 20, 2020, at Naval Base San Diego. (Photo by Sarah Burford-U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones - U.S. Navy via Getty Images
Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Ashlee McCasland, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Jonathan Shaw and Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Lou Canton prepare pallets of supplies to be loaded aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) at Naval Base San Diego, March 21, 2020. (Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones – U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
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Steve King, a Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest forklift driver, prepares to deliver pallets during a supply load aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) at Naval Base San Diego, March 21, 2020. (Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones – U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones - U.S. Navy via Getty Images
Steve King, a Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest forklift driver, prepares to deliver pallets during a supply load aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) at Naval Base San Diego, March 21, 2020. (Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mike Jones – U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mora Jr.
Rear Adm. Timothy Weber, commander of Naval Medical Forces Pacific, speaks to members of the press before the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) departs Naval Base San Diego, March 23, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mora Jr./Released)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 27: USNS Mercy arrived in the Port of Los Angeles, United States on March 27, 2020 at 8:40 A.M. Her mission is to provide relief for Southern California hospitals should they be overrun with coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The men and women serving on the ship will remain onboard during the duration of this deployment. No one is allowed on or off the ship except for patients transferred for care. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 27: USNS Mercy arrived in the Port of Los Angeles, United States on March 27, 2020 at 8:40 A.M. Her mission is to provide relief for Southern California hospitals should they be overrun with coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The men and women serving on the ship will remain onboard during the duration of this deployment. No one is allowed on or off the ship except for patients transferred for care. (Photo by Neal Waters/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: A woman watches from shore as the USNS Mercy Navy hospital ship arrives in the Port of Los Angeles to assist with the coronavirus pandemic on March 27, 2020 in San Pedro, California. The ship holds 1,000 beds which will be used to treat non-coronavirus patients in an effort to free up hospital beds for those suffering from COVID-19. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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The US Navy hospital ship Mercy arrives March 27, 2020 at the Port of Los Angeles to help local hospitals amid the growing coronavirus crisis, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
The shift of non-COVID-19 patients to the Mercy expects to help hospitals prioritize the usage of intensive care units (ICU) and ventilators.
"I couldn't be more proud of our crew for all the hard work they did to get us here and ready in such a short time," said Capt. John Rotruck, Mercy's Military Treatment Facility commanding officer. "Being able to accept our first patients is a true testament of the teamwork between Mercy, the Navy, the State of California, the county of Los Angeles, and the City and Port of L.A."
Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez
(March 29, 2020) U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas Schumacher, a rifleman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, guides an ambulance toward the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) in Los Angeles March 29. The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts, and will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients currently admitted to shore-based hospitals. This allows shore base hospitals to focus their efforts on COVID-19 cases. One of the Department of Defense’s missions is Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DoD is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the lead federal agency, as well as state, local and public health authorities in helping protect the health and safety of the American people. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexa M. Hernandez/Released)
According to the statement provided by
the Navy’s Third Fleet, the USNS Mercy includes a team of “Navy medical and support
staff assembled from 22 commands, as well as over 70 civil service mariners.”
"The men and
women embarked on board Mercy are energized, eager, and ready to provide relief
to those in need," Rotruck said.
Although the Mercy’s primary mission is to provide a mobile and capable surgical medical facility to the U.S. Military, the ship has been mobilized to provide full hospital services in the event of a national emergency and to support U.S. disaster relief.
