HVHC Calls Limited to Switchboard After Hurricane Irene
Hudson Valley Hospital Center is urging callers to dial its main number at 914-737-9000 if they are trying to reach a patient or a hospital department.
While the hospital’s switchboard and computer systems are working, callers may have difficulty getting through if they dial a direct line to departments or patient rooms. The phone trouble is due to fiber optic cable problems related to Hurricane Irene.
“Fortunately, we have redundant systems in place here at the Hospital so our main switchboard is functioning,’’ said John C. Federspiel, President of Hudson Valley Hospital Center. “Our carrier is working on the problem and we hope to have full phone service back soon.’’
Federspiel said the public can reach patients and hospital departments by calling the main switchboard at 914-737-9000 and listening for the prompts. He added that all Emergency Service Agencies which serve the hospital have been notified of the phone service problem.
The hospital had only minor water damage due to this weekend’s hurricane and only one minor storm related injury came through its emergency department early Sunday morning.
Justin Costable, EMS Coordinator and Emergency Management Director at HVHC, said the hospital was prepared with backup generators, extra supplies of food and water and had gone over evacuation and triage procedures with weekend staff, many of whom spent Saturday night at the hospital.
The Hospital also coordinated with other hospitals and EMS agencies on bed capacity in case HVHC had needed to take in evacuated patients from other hospitals.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.