At 3:30 p.m. Monday, Pali Momi Center, Kaiser and the Queen's Medical Center were reported to be under re-route status meaning unless patients are in critical condition they have no more room.
The situation is fluid, so once rooms open up that status can change.
Patients and those in the medical industry were shocked, surprised and appalled after HMC closed its emergency rooms at 7 a.m. Monday.
For the past several days a private ambulance provider has been transporting patients from Hawaii Medical Center West to hospitals across Oahu. The tranfers continued Monday morning near the Emergency Room.
But at 7 a.m. HMC West's ER went dark.
Inside, rooms were bare and there were no signs of doctors, nurses or staff.
"Usually when a hospital closes it takes about a month to get the word out to the community and make sure that there are other measures, we closed the E-R in three days. It was very drastic and I'm afraid for the situation,” said Dr. Melanie Kelly who now works at Pearl City Urgent Care.
When HMC announced last Friday it was "winding down" operations after a deal to sell its two Oahu hospitals fell through in bankruptcy court, few anticipated things would move so quickly.
"I'm personally little bit in shock. We expected 2-to-4 weeks, we expected a little bit more announcement to the community to find out this morning that the services were not available, it's really heartbreaking and it's really devastating to the community,” said Donna Schmidt of Pearl City Urgent Care.
Sarah Perez was unaware.
"There was a sign saying that they were closed...and I was thinking oh my God an E-R is closed?" said Sarah Perez, patient.
A city paramedic on site alerted Perez of a newly opened urgent care center in Pearl City. Its rooms were full by noon.
"Actually they're faster than an ER and they're more patient too,” said Perez.
"Actually our patient count has doubled today,” said Dr. Melanie Kelly.
Dr. Melanie Kelly of Pearl City Urgent Care says HMC West's emergency room saw 40 walk-in patients on Sunday.
"And so I'm very afraid for those patients who are going to go there today and the rest of the week who aren't aware that they're not providing services anymore,” said Dr. Kelly.
It's one reason the city has staged a rapid response team on site along with a district chief.
"The city and county is acting as the safety net for the community. If in case someone should roll up with some medical needs we're here to provide them with that care,” said Kelly Yamamoto, EMSdistrict chief.
"The assets we have here today are folks we normally have on duty during the day -- so rather than be at their station, we've asked them to come here,” said Dr. James Ireland, EMS director.
"We're prepared to stay here as long as we need to make sure that everyone is safe,” said Yamamoto.
HMC says as of today none of the 960 employees has been laid off.
ER staff reported to other areas of the hospital.
The state labor department has released times and locations rapid response teams will be available for affected employees.
Department of Labor Rapid Response Sessions:
24 sessions total
6 at HMC west, 6 at HMC east on Wednesday, December 21
6 at HMC west, 6 at HMC east on Thursday, December 22
Each session each day will be:
3 groups morning, midday and late afternoon
1st session: 630a-710a
2nd session: 715a-800a
3rd 1130a-1210p
1215p-100p
230p-310p
315p-400p
Go to http://hawaii.gov/labor/ui for more information.
