MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Surgical patients in the Eastern Panhandle may have to alter their plans following damage to a local hospital’s operating rooms this week.
The operating rooms at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg are temporarily closed after flooding from weekend storms.
The flooding occurred in the area of the hospital’s first floor expansion project.
“There were no injuries but there was significant flooding and damage,” the hospital said in a statement. “The operating rooms will remain closed until all necessary actions are taken to fully remediate the water damage.”
The medical center is currently only accepting “trauma, obstetric, and other emergent surgical cases.” Elective surgeries will be rescheduled.
The Tuesday statement also said—“An incident command center has been opened to coordinate several efforts including the evaluation of cases being moved to Berkeley Medical Center’s Outpatient Surgery Center and WVU Medicine Jefferson Medical Center as appropriate. Patients will be contacted by their doctor’s office or the Department of Surgical Services to discuss any changes to their upcoming procedure.”
An anonymous caller identifying as an employee told Metronews the incident happened Sunday and reported that ceiling tiles and walls were damaged. The caller reported surgical robots would have to be sent out for recalibration and sterile supplies had to be thrown away.
For its part, the hospital system said at this time, they were not planning any additional interviews or press conferences related to the incident.
Part of this story originally ran at WVMetronews.com
