Hospitals open, prepared for storm
Hospitals throughout Palm Beach County say they plan to be staffed and ready to assist the community before, during and after Hurricane Irma as it aims for the Florida Peninsula.
Kenita Gordon, a spokeswoman for the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Riviera Beach, said there are no plans to evacuate but the facilit y remains ready if it is necessary. She said the concern is that it is unknown which coast of Florida will be most affected by the hurricane.
“It’s a little crazy right now,” she said. “If we had to, we would move the patients to a neighboring VA medical center deep in the state of Florida or even past the state of Florida.”
The VA sent out a news release Wednesday, saying its outpatient clinics will be closed today through Monday with the exception of those who need kidney dialysis.
The VA says veterans from storm-affected areas who require immediate assistance can contact its Health Resource Center Disaster Hotline at 1-800-507-4571.
The VA and hospitals were concerned that some residents might try to seek shelter at medical facilities. Hospitals are not shelters. Those with special needs must register with Palm Beach County to go to the special-needs shelter at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Check outreadypbc. org to sign up.
The hospitals, though, are being s t a f f e d t o t a ke c a r e o f ex i s t i n g patients, emergencies and expectant mothers.
“We are here for our community,” said Brian Altschuler, vice president for ancillary operations at Boca Regional Medical Center. “We are not closed. We are not evacuating. We have great plans in place.”
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County has activated disaster preparedness plans for the Edward J. Healey Center, Lakeside Medical Center, aeromedical unit and pharmacy — though details of those plans weren’t available. Its 10 primary care clinics are working to make patients aware they must register with Palm Beach County if they are in need of the Special Needs Shelter Program.
Jupiter Medical Center said it plans to stay open and functioning during Hurricane Irma, as well. It will even serve as a shelter for some expectant mothers.
It “has begun preparedness procedures to allow normal function of the Medical Center during and after a potential weather emergency,” according to a news release.
B e t h e s d a H o s p i t a l E a s t a n d Bethesda Hospital West in Boynton Beach plan to have doctors, nurses and specialists riding out the storm at both facilities, working in shifts. Patients who are well enough will be discharged before Irma arrives sometime this weekend.