Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center (OHTLMC) has been forced to evacuate over 20 patients after a transformer blew causing a power outage.
The transformer failed at approximately 6:00 Saturday morning.
“Patients are safe and the team is working diligently to provide care while on backup generator power,” hospital officials said in a release.
“While all critical equipment is powered by the backup generators, the HVAC systems and air conditioning chillers have been impacted,” officials said. But because there is no “definitive timeline” for power to be restored, the hospital is transferring 22 patients to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital “for their safety and comfort.”
Teams across the health system are working with Kentucky Emergency Management to coordinate transport by ambulance, as five ambulances from Grayson County EMS along with ambulances from American Medical Response, Owensboro Health/Muhlenberg EMS, Todd County EMS, Logan County EMS, Butler County EMS, and Breckinridge County EMS are being utilized to transport the 22 patients.
Twin Lakes staff and additional physicians will report to OHRH to continue to provide optimal care for the transferred patients, according to the release.
“The safety of our patients is always our top priority, and they have continued to receive excellent care at Twin Lakes despite the power challenges,” Chief Operating Officer Ashley Herrington said. “But with the situation still being resolved, the best thing for our patients is to move them to Owensboro while repairs are underway. Being part of a strong health system like Owensboro Health gives us that option for our patients.”
The emergency department at OHTLMC is on “diversion,” and patients will be transported to other hospitals, as needed. Emergency patients will continue to be stabilized and assessed at OHTLMC.
KU continues to work to restore power.
K105 will have additional information on this story as it becomes available.
(Headline photo: Ambulances waiting at the OHTLMC Emergency Dept. entrance to transfer patients)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
