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October 28, 2003 2:45 p.m.

Media Contact: Health Sciences Communications (619) 543-6163

NOTE TO MEDIA: UCSD Healthcare experts are available to discuss the physical and mental health aspects of the fires.

UCSD HEALTHCARE STATUS REPORT
Update from the UCSD Medical Centers

UCSD Medical Center--Hillcrest and UCSD Thornton Hospital—La Jolla are responding to San Diego County’s need for medical care during the current crisis. All personnel who can safely come to work have reported to their usual work shifts. Day care is available at both hospitals for employees who need to bring their children in.

Both hospitals are open and operating, and have begun taking care of elective surgery cases, which were cancelled Monday. Both hospitals have general and intensive care beds available, and the emergency rooms are busy but able to accommodate patients who are coming in. The UCSD Regional Burn Center continues to accept and care for seriously burned patients.

The UCSD outpatient clinic in Tierrasanta is closed. All other UCSD outpatient centers are caring for patients. As much as possible, elective visits have been rescheduled so that the outpatient clinics can take care of urgent care needs, keeping the emergency rooms in Hillcrest and at Thornton free to care for emergencies. Decisions about clinic schedules are being made based on continuous assessment of the situation.

At this time. UCSD Healthcare has ample supplies, including pharmaceuticals. UCSD Medical Center is in continuing communication with the San Diego County Emergency Operations Center to assure seamless coordination county-wide among the region’s health providers and emergency responders.

“We are appreciative of the physicians and staff, some of whom have been dealing with their own personal concerns, who have responded heroically to assure that patient care needs are being met during this time of crisis for our community,” said Richard Liekweg, UCSD Medical Center Chief Executive Officer.