HealthEast Response to Red River flooding

HealthEast Response to Red River floodingSt. Paul, MN (March 27, 2009) - HealthEast Care System hospitals are among hospitals from the Twin Cities, which are caring for and accepting hospital patients, who have been evacuated from Fargo/Moorhead hospitals. HealthEast Medical Transportation is in Fargo and helping with transporting patients to hospitals.

Overnight, Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul received six patients from a Fargo long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). These patients arrived between 3:30 and 5 am this morning. All patients are currently doing well.

HealthEast acute care hospitals, including St. John's in Maplewood, St. Joseph's in downtown St. Paul and Woodwinds Health Campus in Woodbury, are prepared and ready to accept hospital patients being evacuated from Fargo/Moorhead area. HealthEast hospitals have about 60 beds available, including several beds for preemies or high-risk infants in the neonatal intensive care units.

HealthEast Medical Transportation (HEMT) is in Fargo/Moorhead as a member of the Minnesota State "Ambulance Strike Team" (AST). HealthEast Medical Transportation has helped transport more than three dozen patients from MeritCare in Fargo to other hospitals.

HealthEast is the largest, locally-owned health care organization in the Twin Cities' East Metro with 7,300 employees, 1,200 volunteers and 1,400 physicians on staff.

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