Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs closes one kitchen due to vermin infestation
One kitchen at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs has been closed due to "some evidence of pests," according to a statement from the Desert Care Network on Wednesday.
The facility scored a total of 86 out of 100 points during an inspection with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health on Tuesday. The inspector observed signs of active vermin infestation at the following areas: live cockroaches crawling on the floor, walls and convection oven at the back cookline; rodent droppings and signs of nesting in the fryer cabinets at the front cookline; rodent droppings on the floor of the "disaster" storage room; and rodent droppings in the drawers by the coffee and tea machines.
The inspection report states that the "operator provided logs showing that this is an ongoing issue that the facility was aware of."
Two other inspections took place at the hospital on Tuesday, resulting in scores of 97 and 100, or passing grades.
"We take this situation seriously. Following our protocols, we have called in additional resources to thoroughly assess the area and undertake any needed work," the Desert Care Network, which includes Desert Regional, JFK Memorial in Indio and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, wrote in a statement.
What happens until the Palm Springs hospital's kitchen can be reinspected?
Until a reinspection takes place and the kitchen is reopened, meals for staff, visitors and patients will be served from the hospital's second kitchen. Any special dietary needs for individual patients will be met.
"We are coordinating with the appropriate agencies," the statement continued. "Our goal is to have this resolved within the next day or two and return the kitchen to full service."
The inspection report states that a reinspection has been is scheduled for March 5, but the facility may be reinspected and reopened sooner if violations are corrected and vermin is eliminated. The hospital will utilize the upstairs cafeteria kitchen while it remediates the downstairs patient kitchen.
Desert Regional Medical Center nurses allege health, safety concerns
The kitchen closure comes days after Desert Regional nurses, part of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, rolled out a billboard campaign and released videos to spotlight alleged health and safety concerns at the hospital. Among the videos that were posted, one from Feb. 2 shows several cockroaches, alive and dead, in the emergency department’s break room.
A press release dated Nov. 27 from the union also states that "On several occasions, dead animals have fallen out of the walls into public hospital spaces," and that "ICU RNs had seen two rats so frequently, they had named them."
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs hospital closes kitchen due to vermin infestation
