Hospital on lockdown after threatening phone call
El Centro Regional Medical Center went on lockdown around 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Hospital officials said a former patient called in making threats against staff and the hospital in general. The former patient is known by staff, is a veteran and is believed to suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
The hospital and all outpatient centers as well as all hospital business offices in the area went immediately on lockdown after the call, affecting nearly 3,000 people. That includes patients, visitors, staff and other personnel.
A woman outside the hospital said she was very concerned when she wasn’t allowed to go inside the hospital to pick-up her husband.
El Centro Police contacted the caller. They said the threat was not credible and gave the green light for the hospital to lift the lockdown around 2 p.m.
Hospital officials said they take every threat seriously. The safety of their patients and their staff come first. They train for situations like these.
Dr. Adolphe Edward, E.C.R.M.C. Chief Executive Officer, said, “The entire staff executed what we call a code triage. That means, everybody is on high alert. We actually wanted to secure our patients and their families. So, we kept them under locked doors until we got all clear.”
No one was injured during the time of the lockdown.
