FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Ware, Marketing

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
Contact:
JenniferWare,MarketingManager
903-315-5273Office|903-746-8648Cell
[email protected]
EmergencyDepartmentServicesinKilgoreTemporarilyUnavailable
GoodShepherdPrioritizingSafetyofPatients&Staff
LONGVIEW, TX (February 16, 2016) – Good Shepherd Medical Center has temporarily ceased
emergency services at the Kilgore Emergency Department (ED), located within the Allegiance
SpecialtyHospitalBuildingat1612SouthHendersonBlvd,duetothepresenceofbats.
“Atthistimewebelieveitisinthebestinterestofourpatientsandourstafftotemporarilycease
ourEDservicesuntilthesituationisresolvedandwillclosetheEDat8p.m.tonight,”saidGood
ShepherdChiefAdministrativeOfficerRonShort.“Thisdecisionisnotmadelightlybutisnecessary
forminimizingtheriskofcontactwiththebats.Thesafetyofourstaffandpatientsalwayscomes
first,andweappreciatethehardworkbytheCityofKilgoreandAllegiancetoresolvethesituation
quickly.”
Overthelastseveraldaysanumberofsmallbatswerespottedinthebuilding.Batsarepresentin
the walls and ceiling of the building, and some of the bats have migrated to the ED area. Good
Shepherd has been working in conjunction with the City of Kilgore and Allegiance Specialty
Hospital,whoownandmanagethebuilding,toaddressthepromptremovalofthebats.
A wildlife expert specializing in bat removal is on site evaluating the situation and providing
guidance.“Ourunderstandingistheremovalandcleaningprocesswilltakeatleasttwototwoand-a-half weeks,” said Short. “We are looking forward to resuming the full spectrum of
emergencycareservicesinKilgoreassoon,andmoreimportantlyassafely,aspossible.”
Patients seeking emergency services can visit one of Good Shepherd’s two Emergency
DepartmentslocatedinnearbyLongview:
• GoodShepherdMedicalCenter–LevelIIITraumaCenter
700EMarshallAve,Longview,TX75601
• GoodShepherdNorthParkMedicalPlaza
323EHawkinsPkwy,Longview,TX75605
Incaseofemergency,pleasedial911.
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