By John Latimer
The Lebanon Daily News
LEBANON, Pa. — Things are cooling off at the Lebanon VA Medical Center, but it will be a few days before patients return and operations are back to normal, a hospital spokesman said Monday.
More than 100 patients were evacuated from the South Lebanon Township hospital during last week’s heat wave when a cooling line ruptured about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing temperatures to soar inside the multi-storied brick building.
Coordinating with the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency and First Aid and Safety Patrol, VA officials summoned local ambulances, as well as ambulances from surrounding counties, to transport about 80 patients to area medical facilities. Another 20 patients were discharged and returned home. All but a couple of the patients had been moved by 10 a.m. Thursday, public affairs director Scott Harman said.
Air conditioning was restored Saturday, but some hot spots remained in the building Monday, Harman said.
As workers addressed those problems, the staff began preparing for the patients’ return by restoring medical supplies and cleaning, he said.
“We expect to have full clinical operations and in-patients returned later on this week,” Harman said.
Medical Center Director Robert W. Callahan Jr. expressed his gratitude for the community support and aid from other health-care providers.
“I would like to thank the community for understanding and supporting our decisions during this emergency,” he said. “A special thank you is extended to local institutions and ambulances for responding to our need to help provide safe patient care to our veterans.”
A record of the costs incurred during the emergency is being kept, but it has not been tabulated yet, Harman said.
Copyright 2010 Lebanon Daily News