Sick or Injured at The Draft? Allegheny Health Network is Deploying ‘Medical Forts’
Hospital officials say they are dedicated to making sure the festivities are “a safe and memorable experience.”
ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN
A major Pittsburgh health network has announced its plans to provide medical care to the 500,000-700,000 visitors expected in the region for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Allegheny Health Network says it will deploy various care resources directly within the event footprint while still maintaining hospital readiness across its entire network.
“As a cornerstone of health care in Pittsburgh, AHN is pleased to collaborate with the City of Pittsburgh and the NFL to help ensure this year’s draft is a safe and memorable experience for all,” says Mark Sevco, president of AHN, in a statement. “In anticipation of the significantly increased demand for medical services, we are committed to providing prompt and accessible care and ensuring our hospitals, and our Downtown clinic nearby Point State Park, remain optimally prepared to serve all members of our community.”
The network’s Downtown Express Care will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Wednesday, April 22 through Saturday, April 25. Located in Highmark’s Penn Avenue Place, the walk-in clinic will serve as a first-response point for non-emergency medical needs, including common illnesses and injuries.
Closer to the heart of the draft activities, physicians and nurses from AHN Prehospital Care and AHN Allegheny General Hospital will staff a medical fort near Acrisure Stadium to provide immediate medical support to Draft visitors. Caregivers will maintain continuous communication with EMS units positioned inside the stadium and across the Draft’s footprint for seamless care coordination, according to a press release.
Hospital officials will operate a command center at Nova Place on Pittsburgh’s North Side to manage patient flow across care sites and help mitigate potential strain on the emergency department at nearby AGH. As a Level I trauma center, AGH is concurrently prepared to treat an influx of patients throughout the event.
Because large crowds and traffic restrictions are expected for the city’s North Side during Draft week, AGH is also working with City of Pittsburgh and NFL officials to ensure that non-emergency patients have unencumbered access to the hospital for their scheduled medical appointments.
“AGH has a long history of effectively responding to events that bring high volumes of people to the North Side and patients to our doors,” says Brent Rau, MD, medical director of Allegheny General Hospital’s emergency department, in a statement. “We look forward to meeting our community’s health needs throughout the draft, and anticipate a well-executed event for the City of Pittsburgh.”
Patients with previously scheduled primary care appointments at the facility will have the option to utilize video visits during this time.
