Strong Memorial ED temporary diversion has been lifted

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Strong Memorial ED was on temporary diversion during clean-up of a significant water leak that occurred Friday afternoon. The diversion has since been lifted.

A spokesperson for the hospital released the following statement:

"As of 6 p.m. today, the Strong Memorial Hospital Emergency Department is no longer on diversion and is accepting patients for all emergency medical care needs. Patients being transported for psychiatric assessment, however, will continue being diverted to other hospitals until at least 10 p.m. tonight."

EMS crews can continue to bring critical trauma, stroke, heart attack and pediatric patients to Strong, but at the moment ambulances are taking other adult patients with less critical needs to emergency rooms at Highland, Rochester General, and other area hospitals. Patients who were already in the ED are being cared for in areas not impacted by the leak, and the pediatric ED was unaffected.

The leak was caused by damage to a sprinkler head in a restroom on the second floor above the ED, which caused the release of a significant volume of water. The sprinkler was quickly repaired and the system is fully operational, but some patients had to be moved as water is being cleaned up on the second floor and an area of the ED below.

The hospital hopes to resume normal ED operations by 6 p.m. and will release another statement when the diversion has been lifted.