With an influx of 5,000-7,000 people in Downtown Pittsburgh for the NFL draft, hospitals are preparing for any and all emergencies.<\/p>\n
Doctor Amy Crawford-Faucher is the chair of Allegheny Health Network\u2019s Primary Care Institute.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thought, well, there\u2019s an amazing opportunity here to really help both our native folks and visitors to really offer care that doesn\u2019t exist anywhere else downtown for a walk-in subacute care, not ER level things,\u201d Crawford-Foucher said.<\/p>\n
There are several locations for NFL Draft attendees to receive medical care if needed. The AHN Downtown Express Care along Penn Avenue Place will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 25. Additionally, the AHN Mobile Clinic will be stationed in Market Square.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be medical outposts in other places as well, but we\u2019ll be coordinating with that kind of central command to figure out who needs to go where,\u201d said Crawford-Foucher.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a similar situation for UPMC, which is setting up medical tents all over, including the North Shore and Point State Park.<\/p>\n
Ken Strauss lives in the city next to the point.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the building I live in, they\u2019re going to need what they call like a security card. They show security – it basically lets them in and out of the property,\u201d Strauss said.<\/p>\n
He says he\u2019s excited the draft is coming to Pittsburgh, but he\u2019s not interested in dealing with the massive crowds expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably gonna be a lot of chaos because of that,\u201d Strauss said.<\/p>\n
Strauss says his solution is to leave the city until the draft is over.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m leaving town, I\u2019m getting out of here,\u201d Strauss said.<\/p>\n
AHN says it\u2019s doubled its staff for the draft. UPMC says it too has increased staffing for next week.<\/p>\n
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