Doctor's Hospital Flooded with Complaints of Respiratory Problems

-Bay City News

At least two hundred Contra Costa County residents sought medical attention for respiratory problems after the fire at the Chevron refinery Monday night, according to a spokeswoman at Doctors Medical Center hospital.
          
Doctors Medical Center, a hospital located in San Pablo, activated their Incident Command Center shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Monday in response to the compromised air quality in the region.

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Doctors Medical Center received approximately 200 people seeking services and complaining of respiratory problems. As of 11:30 p.m. Monday more patients were arriving at the hospital with related illnesses, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Doctors Medical Center, which is owned and operated by the West Contra Costa Healthcare District, called in additional staff, closed off air circulation from outside and regularly monitored air quality in response to the shelter-in-place advisory issued Monday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The hospital continued to shelter-in-place until about 11:12 p.m., at which time the advisory was lifted.

Hospital administrators are working with Contra Costa County officials to monitor air quality and medical resources, a hospital spokeswoman said.

People who are concerned they are suffering from related illnesses are urged to follow Contra Costa County Public Health Department guidelines at www.cchealth.org/emergencies and seek services when needed.