PHOENIX — On Thursday, Governor Doug Ducey announced the reopening of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Phoenix with 339 ICU high-acuity beds, with flexibility for other uses if needed.
Saint Luke’s Medical Center previously shut its doors due to low patient demand in November 2019. As part of a statewide plan to secure resources for health care professionals, the Arizona Department of Health Services selected the hospital as a location to set up additional ICU beds with assistance from the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.
“Arizona is taking proactive measures to increase hospital capacity and secure resources for health care professionals. This is a statewide plan and Arizona will be prepared,” said Ducey. “Our hope is that we never have to use these beds — and that our physical distancing measures, travel restrictions, limitations on elective surgeries and other protective actions will mean fewer infections and less strain on our health care system. But, we are prepared for what may come next. My thanks to the health care professionals, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and everyone working to protect public health and support others.”
Ducey issued an Executive Order on April 9 to help boost medical staffing levels and provide certainty and liability protections to health care professionals serving on the front lines.