ANDREWS AFB, Md. —
Malcolm Grow Medical Center will be conducting essential critical repairs and preventive maintenance of its steam plant, July 15-22, 2007, limiting both the availability of domestic hot water and sterilization capabilities.
During this time, all inpatient services such as general surgery and obstetrics will be directed to other area hospitals. Outpatient and ancillary services will not be affected.
"To ensure patient safety, we have doubled the number of our emergency transport teams. We have also contacted our near term obstetric patients, informing them of how their care will be provided during this period," said Lieutenant Colonel James R. Bennion, medical staff chief, 79th Medical Group.
All inpatient admissions and procedures have been planned to allow patients to be discharged on Saturday, July 14, with the exception of expectant mothers who have been redirected since yesterday.
"We are dedicated to providing comprehensive quality care and insuring that our facility is clean, safe, and maintained to support our patient population," said Colonel Schuyler K. Geller, commander, 79th Medical Group. "Naturally, we want to do all we can to mitigate any inconvenience to our patients and hope that by planning this necessary upgrade, as opposed to responding to system defect that could have happened at any time--we hope to do just that."
For questions regarding services during this period, call hospital information at 240-857-5911/12; for emergent care questions call the emergency department at 240-857-2333/2158.