Desert Regional ER accepting patients again after power interruption

Desert Regional Medical Center’s ER is closed due to a power interruption, patients arriving are being sent to other hospitals.

According to Richard Ramhoff, the public information officer for Desert Regional, the hospital is running on backup generator power, everything is currently on.

The power interruption was caused due to the failure of a transformer that was bringing power from Southern California Edison. Representatives did not have a reason for what caused the transformer to fail at this time.

An SCE representative said the failure of the transformer is not related to the weather.

No patients had to be transferred from the hospital. The hospital did divert ambulances from the emergency department for two hours, that diversion has since been lifted and the ER is once again accepting patients, according to a press release from Desert Regional.

Ramhoff said a new transformer is expected to be installed within 24 hours, the hospital will remain on backup power until a new transformer is in place.