A skilled nursing facility and a hospital were right in the path of one of the San Diego County fires. KPBS health reporter Kenny Goldberg says the evacuation of Palomar Pomerado Hospital decided even before an official order to move the patients to safer places.
Officials at Palomar Pomerado Hospital decided at about 8 a.m. to evacuate. That meant moving 80 patients from the Poway hospital, and 122 patients from the adjacent skilled nursing facility.
The patients were dispersed throughout the region. 37 patients from the nursing center were bused north
Staff at the Palomar Continuing Care Center in Escondido jumped into action when the buses pulled up.
Equipped with wheelchairs, the staff got each patient off the bus, and inside the facility in seconds flat.
Patients were wheeled into a multi-purpose room, and given a snack lunch.
Palomar's Sheila Brown says the process went smoothly, because staff repeatedly practice the exercise.
Still, Brown says it's tough on the patients.
Brown : Oh, it's very disruptive. Anxiety, fearful, and wanting to know about their loved ones. So, we have to try to be calm while we're moving them, encourage the patients, and really show them that we're here to support them.
It's not known how long the patients will be displaced.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
