Dr. Gary Gottlieb Pitches His Plan For Massachusetts Healthcare In The COVID-19 Fight

Virus Outbreak — A woman wears a mask outside Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Saturday, March, 14, 2020. Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday issued an emergency order banning most gatherings of more than 250 people to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Aidan Connelly is a production assistant on Boston Public Radio. A graduate of Emerson College with a B.A in journalism, his work has appeared on WBUR, KCRW, and The Marketplace Morning Report.

April 02, 2020

Updated August 07, 2023

With the anticipated spike in state COVID-19 cases only weeks away, many healthcare experts are working to develop approaches that will allow hospitals to care for the steep influx of patients. One of those experts is Dr. Gary Gottlieb, who called in to Boston Public Radio on Thursday to explain his recent Boston Globe column calling for a "comprehensive care response to the coronavirus."

In his words, Gottlieb’s plan recommended that officials "rapidly mobilize public and private assets to create a program that will connect every citizen to a care resource that can triage and safely support COVID-19 patients at home or in community-based venues.”

Specifically, he advocated for expanded remote care, the repurposing of non-invasive respirators for less ill patients, and expedited training of EMTs and paramedics to provide in-home support.

"As we’ve all listened to, the number of beds that are available, the number of ventilators, the number of skilled professionals who can, in fact, operate various components of intensive care will absolutely be stressed,” he said.

Gottlieb is the former CEO of Partners Healthcare, former CEO of Partners in Health, and a current professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Aidan Connelly is a production assistant on Boston Public Radio. A graduate of Emerson College with a B.A in journalism, his work has appeared on WBUR, KCRW, and The Marketplace Morning Report.