Updated: St. E’s Youngstown Lifts ‘Temporary Diversion’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Key laboratory equipment has been repaired and is back online, and Mercy Health – Youngstown’s St. Elizabeth Boardman and St. Joseph Warren Hospital continue to provide laboratory services support as St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital restores its lab to full operation.

St. Elizabeth announced Sunday morning that it was on “temporary diversion” after the air handling system in its laboratory shut down and enabled water to enter the facility. The incident occurred at approximately 5 a.m.

The temporary diversion was lifted at 1 p.m.

The shutdown was caused by coils within the air handling system that froze as a result of the extreme temperatures. Water pumped through the damaged coils and entered the laboratory, damaging key equipment, the hospital said.. The laboratory is the primary site for a variety of diagnostic and specimen testing for Mercy Health’s three Mahoning Valley hospitals: St. Elizabeth Youngstown, St. Elizabeth Boardman and St. Joseph Warren hospitals.

Donald E. Koenig, Jr., chief operating officer of Mercy Health – Youngstown, said the hospital immediately mobilized its disaster team and worked with other Mercy Health – Youngstown hospitals, as well as partners and vendors to activate contingency plans.

“Mercy Health – Youngstown has response and contingency plans in place for these types of situations to minimize disruption to our operations and, ultimately, our patients,” Koenig said.

 

SOURCE: Mercy Health – Youngstown

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