Coliseum Northside Hospital cares for patients from South Carolina during Florence

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In effort to help those in Florence’s path, hospitals in Middle Georgia are lending a helping hand. Coliseum Northside Hospital is making room for some patients coming from Myrtle Beach.

The outer bands of Florence are beginning to hit the Carolinas. While many people evacuated over the past few days, those already admitted in to hospitals needed somewhere to go as well.

“Patients that we got in Tuesday came in a little after midnight and they were on a singular ambulance bus,” Coliseum Northside Hospital CEO Greg Caples said.

Coliseum Northside Hospital staff had just hours to prepare for their new patients after they were given the heads up, Monday.

“The Grand Strand Medical Hospital in Myrtle Beach was effected by an order by the governor of South Carolina on Monday related to mandatory medical evacuations of all their patients, which they had about 320 patients at the time,” he said.

In total, Caples says they have 18 patients from their sister hospital, Grand Strand Hospital in South Carolina.

“So many of us came to greet them and safely transport them to the beds we had ready for them and to give them some food and water and things they needed after their grueling trip that they had,” Caples said.

After a long 12 hours of traveling for the patients, Medical Director Dr. Yomi Gammada says they wanted to make sure their transition was smooth.

“It only took 45-minutes to an hour to tuck all of the patients in after they got off the bus. There was already pre-admission orders set for the patients in terms of what medications that they’re going to need, what diet they’re going to need,” Dr. Gammada said.

After Florence passes, Caples says they’ll coordinate with Grand Strand Hospital about discharging or transporting the patients back. The Medical Center, Navicent Health, currently, doesn’t have patients seeking care from the coast.

Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin also received three patients from Grand Strand Hospital.