Chemical fumes, traced to a leak in a faulty heating coil that released nontoxic propylene glycol, poured into the operating rooms at the VA hospital Dec. 28. As a result of the fumes, the VA medical center was forced to relocate six patients that had already been prepped for surgery. Some patients were evacuated to the intensive care unit and others were transferred to nearby facilities for care. Since Dec. 28, surgical services at the 200-bed facility have been unavailable.
On Jan. 1, frigid temperatures damaged 10 heating coils and flooded the hospital’s ED waiting room and surrounding area with up to 2 inches of water. Since the flooding, emergency services have been rerouted to other areas of the hospital. Until the department reopens, veterans with life threatening conditions will be transferred to other nearby hospitals.
The VA hospital’s eight operating rooms are expected to reopen Jan. 24; however, the ED will likely remain closed for repairs until mid-February, according to the report.
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