Barzilai Hospital CEO Dr. Chezi Levi reacted immediately as Operation Protective Edge moved to a ground forces invasion into Gaza. Dr. Levi moved the hospital’s maternity, preemie and pediatric units to fortified areas, then announcing the facility was operating at high alert. Levi was well-aware that it would not be long before the wounded would begin arriving and his teams had to be ready to deal with that reality.

All trauma teams were placed on alert, as were surgeons and many other specialists. In reality, Barzilai is the closest hospital to the warfare and therefore, receives a good deal of the wounded. In the 29 days of Operation Protective Edge, 1,243 victims of the warfare were treated, of which 600 were IDF personnel. Four of the wounded were in serious condition, 36 moderate and the remainder light.

Most seriously wounded victims were flown to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, the regional trauma center.

Many other hospitals were also called upon to treat the wounded, including Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, Hadassah Hospital Mt. Scopus, Beilinson Hospital, and Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)