St. Joseph’s/Candler to Shift Operations to St. Joseph’s Hospital During Irma
Sep 7, 2017
The Candler Hospital Emergency Department will be evacuated Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. and will be closed for the duration of the storm.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Department will remain open during the storm.
With recent upgrades, St. Joseph’s Hospital is better equipped to handle a strong hurricane. Candler Hospital will evacuate all patients or relocate to The St. Joseph’s Hospital during and immediately after the storm.
Due to the uncertainty of the force of this storm, St. Joseph’s/Candler will consolidate operations to St. Joseph's Hospital. With the recent upgrades to that facility, it is better equipped to handle the long term needs of our caregivers, medical staff and any patients who are too sick to be discharged or evacuated.
The newly renovated St. Joseph’s Hospital is now one of the strongest buildings in Savannah capable of withstanding significant hurricane force winds. In addition, it can run emergency power to the entire 330-bed building for a longer period of time. This includes the ability to air condition all patient areas and surgical suites.
The main tower was upgraded with panels that can withstand 130 mile-per-hour winds and the new expansion includes glass that is rated for a 120 mile-per-hour impact. Our Candler Facility is not rated for winds of this force.
St. Joseph’s Hospital has a helicopter pad and a large area behind the hospital for any other necessary emergency vehicles.
Candler Hospital will temporarily close its facilities, including the emergency department, the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion as well as the medical office buildings on campus. Emergency obstetrics will be available at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The Candler Hospital emergency department will not be open during the storm or in the days afterwards. The timing will be contingent upon the safe transfer, discharge or evacuation of current patients.
St. Joseph’s/Candler leadership has been working with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency on this potential scenario for several months. Memorial University Medical Center in midtown Savannah is situated to handle that geographic area while St. Joseph’s Hospital on the Southside can cover the Southside and other outlying counties.