Air conditioning malfunction at Pennsylvania hospital to cost $13.5M in damages

An air conditioning malfunction at Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital in July is expected to cost the hospital nearly $13.5 million in damages, according to ABC27 News.

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The hospital’s air conditioning system malfunctioned by pumping humid air into operating rooms and forcing the hospital to delay scheduled surgeries for five days. Hospital officials were also forced to transfer emergency and trauma patients to other local hospitals, according to the article.

The $13.5 million figure does not include the price to repair the air conditioning system or costs associated with clean up efforts, delayed surgeries or the transfer of patients after the incident, according to the article.

A spokesperson for Lancaster General told ABC27 that it is yet to be determined whether the hospital’s insurer will cover the costs.

Hospital officials said the malfunction was the result of an aging air conditioning switch that operated without a backup.

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