LAist: Huntington Health in Pasadena Significantly Impacted by Fires
LAist program AirTalk recently interviewed Lori Morgan, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, about providing patient care during the recent L.A. wildfires as one of the largest blazes raged nearby.
The Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, just a few miles north of Huntington Hospital in the heart of Pasadena. Morgan told AirTalk host Larry Mantle the hospital remained open for emergency and inpatient care, even though more than 2,500 employees—nearly half of its staff—were directly affected by the fires.
“We had many staff working who lost their homes, and yet their dedication meant that they were going to be here to take care of their community,” she said.
Morgan told Mantle the hospital is “a beacon for the community” during a disaster, with a team of healthcare providers who believe that “we are by and of our community, and we want to support the needs of our community.”
She said the hospital is still caring for patients with respiratory problems because some health issues caused by the wildfires can linger or be delayed, especially as poor air quality persists.
“Like always, we are here for our community,” Morgan told Mantle. “And again, our focus is on providing acute medical care for whatever the needs are.”
She added that the hospital also is supporting staff who lost their homes—or whose homes were damaged—by providing meals and donations, offering a payroll advance program, providing respite rooms at the hospital and more.
Click here to listen to the entire segment of AirTalk.