Ridgecrest (Calif.) Regional Hospital reopened July 8 after two earthquakes forced the hospital to close, according to a press release obtained by Becker's Hospital Review.
On July 4, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Ridgecrest Regional and was followed by a second major magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 5. The earthquakes forced Ridgecrest Regional to evacuate patients into the hospital's parking lot and transfer inpatients to surrounding hospitals.
After the earthquakes, Ridgecrest Regional closed its emergency department, urgent care, lab, radiology, dental, rehabilitation, medical records/health information management and some outpatient services.
The ED and labor and delivery services have resumed normal operations, while all other departments are also returning to normal business hours. The hospital is still working to reopen the hospital's urgent care facility July 8.
The hospital's new patient tower suffered damage and will require repairs on its second floor. Ridgecrest Regional President and CEO James Suver said in the press release: "Damage to our new patient tower is unfortunate and repairs are likely to take several months. However, this will not hamper hospital operations, as we prepare to move back and utilize some of the older parts of the hospital."
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