Local hospitals are being plagued by widespread water problems in the Austin area after bad weather this week.
The South Austin Medical Center in St. David said it lost the city’s water pressure on Wednesday, creating a series of problems.
“The water feeds the plant’s boiler and, as a result, is also losing heat,” said David Huffstutler, CEO of St. David’s HealthCare, in a statement.
Huffstutler said the hospital is working with city officials to remedy the situation. In the meantime, hospital and city officials are finding transportation to take patients “who can safely be discharged home”.
Other patients are being referred to hospitals that have capacity. St. David’s South Austin Medical Center currently has just under 300 patients, officials said.
“Because this is an emergency situation across the state that is also affecting other hospitals in the Austin area,” said Huffstutler, “no hospital currently has the capacity to accept the transport of large numbers of patients.”
St. David’s is handing out bottles of water and jars for patients and staff to drink and wash their hands. It’s finding a way to get portable toilets, officials said.
“Through our national partner, HCA Healthcare, we are able to guarantee and provide the food, bedding, medication and supplies needed to care for and serve our patients,” said Huffstutler.
Employees who are currently scheduled to work are being asked to stay in the hospital.
Seton hospitals in the area also face water problems.
An Ascension Seton spokesman said in a statement that “extreme weather conditions have caused intermittent water problems at various Ascension Seton facilities” and is working to fix these problems.
“All Ascension Seton hospitals have emergency response plans to provide uninterrupted patient care, including access to backup generators for each service location,” said a spokesman in a statement. “Throughout the year, our hospitals prepare for a variety of emergency situations, which include testing backup power sources and regularly reviewing and updating emergency response plans.”
Ascension Seton officials say they are rescheduling elective surgeries.
St. David officials also announced that they are “canceling all non-emergent procedures” for now.