The Desimone Levee on the Green River failed and is under repair. The hospital is above the flood zone and currently in no danger of flooding. We evacuated our Time Square and Kent Station Clinics and our Lind Avenue locations. Several locations are experiencing staffing issues due to severe traffic impacts. Impacted patients are being contacted to reschedule appointments. Please be safe, do not drive or walk through standing water, and call 9-1-1 if you need emergency evacuation assistance.
Click here for King County Road Closure Real-time Tracker.
Planned 29-Hour Steam/Hot Water System Shutdown Begins 9 PM Friday, August 22
Facilities will be performing a planned shutdown of the entire steam system for 29 hours to complete important valve replacements that will improve long-term system reliability. This shutdown is being coordinated in advance to allow you and your teams time to plan accordingly.
The facilities team will be in close contact with the CAR and leadership throughout the shutdown to support teams, troubleshoot issues, and provide updates. As we get closer to the shutdown date, be on the lookout for invitations to check-in calls to report any issues or request support.
When is this happening?
- Start: Friday, August 22 at 9 PM
- End: Expected by Sunday, August 24 at 2 AM
What’s affected?
- No hot water (room-temperature water will still be available)
- No steam
- Limited temperature and humidity control throughout the hospital and adjacent campus buildings
This includes key areas such as Birth Center operating rooms, the main OR, sterile processing, laboratory, inpatient pharmacy, infusion pharmacy, sterile processing, the kitchen, and EVS. Any activity that requires the use of hot water or temperature/humidity control will be impacted, such as keeping newborns and patients warm, hand hygiene, patient showers, ability to wash dishes in the kitchen, use of non-disposable wash mops/rags in EVS, etc.
What to know:
Hand Hygiene
- According to the CDC, cold or warm water removes the same number of germs when used with soap. Alcohol-based hand rubs are also effective and available, when appropriate.
Air Quality & Temperature
- HVAC systems will continue to run with normal airflow and filtration.
- Temperatures may gradually drop, but room air will remain clean, filtered, and pressurized appropriately.
Patient & Staff Comfort
- Ensure warm blanket cabinets are fully stocked. EVS will support restocking as needed.
- Staff are encouraged to dress in layers or bring additional clothing.
- The HVAC team will be on-site monitoring the air handler systems to help control temp as much as possible.
- Please print and distribute these flyers to inform impacted patients starting ahead of the shutdown on Aug. 22.
Procedural Areas
- No elective procedures are scheduled during this timeframe.
- Urgent/emergent cases may proceed as long as clinical conditions remain safe. If temperature/humidity fall out of range, follow the Temperature and Humidity Clinical Response policy checklist. Note that staff and licensed practitioners agree that the benefits of proceeding with the case outweigh the risks and what you are doing to mitigate risk, i.e. actively warming the patient, extra patient temperature monitoring, assessing for condensation, etc.
Other Notes
- Sterile processing will be impacted. If you need these services, please plan ahead and contact Raj Goraya at Raj_Goraya@valleymed.org.
- Eyewash stations will continue to function.
- Curtain cleaning may be delayed until hot water service resumes.
- EVS and the Café will shift to disposable supplies during the shutdown.
- Showers in the fitness center will not have hot water during this time.
- Cooling steam pipes may cause ceiling leaks. Facilities will have staff ready to respond; please call 690.3550.
Who to Contact:
- Linen & EVS: 690.2100
- Engineering & Facilities: 690.3550
- Project Manager (Mark McGary): 690.4289
Thank you for planning ahead and supporting safe patient care during this temporary system upgrade.