Local hospital infested with bats

RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C.,None — FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital has temporarily discontinued inpatient care due to a bat infestation.

They will not reopen until the bat colony that has taken up residence in the walls of the hospital has been removed.

The decision to suspend inpatient care services follows a period of extensive efforts by Get Bats Out, a professional bat removal service.

“Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of our patients, families, visitors, and employees,” said Gretchen Kelly, the public relations director for FirstHealth. “We are making every effort to accommodate all those affected by this event.”

The 14 patients expected to need inpatient care beyond Saturday morning were transported Friday evening by FirstHealth EMS staff to a hospital of their choice. FirstHealth administration and medical staff coordinated patient transfers with area hospitals.

The hospital emergency department will continue to provide services to patients who present themselves, but patients being transported by ambulances will be taken directly to another area hospital.

Staff contacted the Richmond County Health Department Friday to conduct a thorough inspection of the facility to determine if the facility posed a risk to staff and patient health.

The local health department staff teamed with hospital staff  to thoroughly inspect all air handling units, intakes and returns, all rooftop areas, patient rooms, offices, common areas, laundry, food service, unused facility spaced, elevator shafts, stairwells, interior ceiling tiles and numerous other areas of the facility.

Health department staff consulted with the professional bat removal staff on site who also conducted an inspection of the facility.

The bat removal company explained their strategic plan to alleviate any and all bats and their harborages from the facility as well as their plan for refusal of access.

After conducting the inspection, it was determined that there was no evidence of bat guano within the interior of the facility.

With these findings, it is the determination of the Richmond County Health Department that FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital does not pose a risk to their staff or the patients they serve.

WSOC