A burst pipe that caused a patient evacuation at Curahealth Hospital in Stoughton, Mass., has been linked to a piece of equipment that malfunctioned during a repair of a leaky toilet in the building, according to the Patriot Ledger.
Difficulty locating the damaged pipe’s shut-off valve during the emergency has raised concerns about safety protocols at the hospital.
The damaged pipe, located inside the hospital’s walls, leaked water for over an hour before hospital staff and fire officials could locate its shut-off valve.
The 21 patients evacuated were from the facility’s long-term acute care unit, seven or eight of whom rely on electricity for ventilation or basic life support, were all expected to return to the facility within a week.
Ambulances transferred the patients to six hospitals in the area with no injuries or health complications sustained during the transition.
Cathryn Jakicic is healthcare industries editor of FacilitiesNet.com. For more information on hospital campuses and other medical facilities, visit Healthcare Facilities Today.
