AKRON, Ohio — Patient visitation remains closed, with some exceptions, at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital following a water main break over the weekend.
On Saturday, a 12-inch water line burst across the street from the emergency room.
Jean Hinneberg's 98-year-old mother was brought to the hospital just a day before the water main break.
“I didn’t know how they were going to do anything," Hinneberg said. "I thought, how are they going to get rid of all the water? That was my concern. How is anything going to survive?”
The break prompted the hospital to close general visitation and outpatient appointments and to divert ambulances.
While outpatient appointments are no longer canceled, and ambulances are no longer diverted, hospital visitations are restricted, with some exceptions for families of critically ill patients and loved ones of mothers delivering babies.
Hinneberg, whose mother has dementia, has also been allowed to visit.
"I got in on Saturday and then they told me I couldn’t come back, and I said, ‘I need to. She needs me.’ So, they let me back in,” Hinneberg said.
Cleveland Clinic Akron General President Dr. Teri Lash-Ritter said to call the hospital for specifics before planning a visit to see a patient.
"What I would recommend would be that you would call. We do have exceptions. And so if you call, you can talk to our nursing leadership to establish some kind of idea of whether you should come or whether it would be better for you to touch base in other ways. And certainly, we could connect our patients with their family through iPads or that kind of thing as well," Lash-Ritter said.
Hospital leaders said there was significant flooding in the pharmacy and lab, but both are back up and running. The extent of the damage to sections of the hospital is not being revealed at this time.
"It’s not a quick process to assess fully every area that was affected by the water intrusion,” Lash-Ritter said.
The kitchen is one area that was impacted by the water main break, prompting staff to bring in food from off-site to provide meals to patients.
“As soon as we can safely assure that our kitchen is ready and operational, we will transition back to our own meals," Lash-Ritter said.
The water main break was repaired Saturday, and testing showed that the water at the hospital is safe to drink.
The decision as to when all visitors can return is day-to-day.
Hinnegerg said she's grateful that her mother was able to receive care amid a hectic situation.
"They took perfect care of her and were very helpful," Hinneberg said.
The hospital shut down affected areas due to water intrusion, and crews have been working to restore them to ensure everything is safe, Lash Ritter said. The water main break didn't affect patient care.
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