Local hospitals are being affected by widespread water issues in the Austin area, following severe weather this week.
St. David鈥檚 South Austin Medical Center said it lost water pressure from the city Wednesday, creating a series of problems.
鈥淲ater feeds the facility's boiler, so as a result, it is also losing heat,鈥� David Huffstutler, CEO of St. David鈥檚 HealthCare, said in a statement.
Huffstutler said the hospital is working with city officials to fix the situation. In the meantime, hospital and city officials are finding transportation to get patients 鈥渨ho are medically able to be discharged home safely.鈥�
Other patients are being sent to hospitals that have capacity. St. David鈥檚 South Austin Medical Center currently has just under 300 patients, officials said.
鈥淏ecause this is a state-wide emergency situation that is also impacting other hospitals within the Austin area,鈥� Huffstutler said, 鈥渘o one hospital currently has the capacity to accept transport of a large number of patients.鈥�
St. David鈥檚 is passing out water bottles and jugs to patients and employees to drink and wash their hands. It is figuring out a way to get portable toilets, officials said.
"Through our national partner, HCA Healthcare, we are able to secure and source food, linens, medication and supplies needed to care for and serve our patients," Huffstutler said.
Employees who are currently scheduled to work are being asked to stay in the hospital.
Seton hospitals in the area are also facing water problems.
A spokesperson for Ascension Seton said in a statement that 鈥渆xtreme weather conditions have caused intermittent water issues at several Ascension Seton" facilities.
In a letter obtained by KUT, patients and families at Dell Children鈥檚 are being asked to not take showers and use hand sanitizer to clean their hands. They were also told the toilets can鈥檛 flush ,and staff are changing linens only as needed.
鈥淲e anticipate the temperature in the building will be more difficult to maintain as the temperature drops,鈥� the letter said. 鈥淲e do have a limited supply of fleece blankets available.鈥�
A spokesperson for Ascension Seton said staff is working to fix issues across their network of hospitals in the area.
鈥淎ll Ascension Seton hospitals have emergency response plans in place to provide uninterrupted patient care, including access to backup generators for each care site,鈥� a spokesperson said in a statement. 鈥淭hroughout the year, our hospitals prepare for a variety of emergency situations, which includes testing of backup power sources and reviewing and updating emergency response plans on a regular basis.鈥�
Ascension Seton officials say they are rescheduling elective surgeries.
St. David鈥檚 officials also announced they are 鈥渃anceling all non-emergent procedures鈥� for the time being.
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