‘We hope it doesn’t get there,’ but Bellingham hospital planning for coronavirus surge

Planning and preparation at Bellingham’s St. Joseph hospital continues in earnest for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases that hospitals around the world have seen during the coronavirus pandemic, PeaceHealth officials say.

The officials spoke to The Bellingham Herald Saturday, March 28, in response to concerns raised earlier this month by longtime Bellingham Emergency Department doctor Ming Lin over the hospital’s testing and screening procedures, how well the hospital is protecting its caregivers on the front line and how prepared it is to face the pandemic.

Lin said Friday, March 27, that he was fired over his public criticism of the hospital.