The Fox News Rundown

Israel's Largest Hospital Treating Patients Underground Amid Missile Attacks

Mar 26, 2026
Dr. Jordanna Koppel, an attending pediatric emergency physician at Sheba Medical Center, shares frontline pediatric care during ongoing missile attacks. She describes relocating over a thousand patients underground and running a full subterranean hospital. She discusses treating blast injuries, using telemedicine and AI tools, and supporting children’s emotional trauma with VR and medical clowns.
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INSIGHT

Sheba Built A Full Underground Tertiary Hospital

  • Sheba Medical Center moved more than 1,000 patients underground within 48 hours to continue full hospital operations.
  • The subterranean facility functions as a full tertiary hospital with surgery, CT, MRI, PICU, neonatal and cardiac services operating below ground.
INSIGHT

Designing Child Friendly Care Underground

  • Pediatric care underground changes patient experience because there's no natural light and the environment can be intimidating for children.
  • Staff introduced medical clowns, toys, snacks, and dedicated newborn/mother areas to preserve normalcy and comfort.
INSIGHT

Senior Physicians Sleep Onsite For Rapid Response

  • Staffing patterns adjusted: senior physicians now sleep in the hospital nightly to ensure rapid response during missile launches or mass-casualty events.
  • The emergency department operates like an ICU with on-site senior coverage for immediate resuscitations.
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