(Photo provided) Due to power issues caused by the hot weather some patients had to be moved from WVU Medicine Wetzel County Hospital to other facilities.

WVU Medicine Wetzel County Hospital was on diversion status last week due to power issues related to the demand for electricity because of the hot weather.

Phillip Carl, director of communications and marketing for the hospital, said on June 26 said during the weekend prior power issues began.

“We experienced unstable power as a result of the overwhelming heat,” he said. “In an abundance of caution, we transferred a small number of patients to other local partner hospitals and cancelled some non-emergent services that required heavy power use.”

The diversion also meant not receiving patients in the emergency room. Patients were taken to the next nearest emergency room for care.

“We did experience a very short-term disruption in air conditioning in a small area of the hospital, but all current patients and staff at Wetzel are receiving the same high level of care we always provide,” Carl said.

“Clinical services like primary care visits, lab draws, and physical therapy remain unaffected and are operating as normal. Our goal is to have this issue fully resolved in the coming days. We appreciate everyone’s patience and dedication while we resolve this issue.”

Carl said the hospital had been working with the electric utility company regarding the situation. He noted it was his understanding that it was not a failure at the hospital or with the power company; just a situation resulting from the extreme heat.