FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 19, 2003

—MEDIA ADVISORY—
SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL BEDS HAS UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER NEAR CLOSURE

WHAT:

UC Davis Medical Center officials have declared an internal state of emergency in the hospital this morning and are turning away all but the most seriously ill and injured patients because the hospital is completely full. Since yesterday, the trauma center and emergency department at UC Davis Medical Center and UC Davis Children's Hospital have been closed to all but the most critically injured patients. Elective surgeries are being postponed to free up operating rooms for patients with life-threatening conditions.

Officials will be available for a brief time this morning to answer reporters' questions about the situation.

WHEN:

Wednesday, March 19, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Meet in Tower Lobby of the main hospital building, located at 2315 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento.
Briefing to occur in Davis Tower Conference room, Room 14704
(Parking is available in front of the main hospital building.)

WHY:

UC Davis Medical Center and other local hospitals have been operating at capacity for much of the last year. Emergency departments throughout Sacramento have struggled to remain open in the face of a serious shortage of hospital beds. A rapidly growing population in the Sacramento region, a growing number of uninsured patients who crowd emergency rooms because they cannot get care elsewhere, and a critical shortage of nursing staff are putting increasing strain on area hospitals.

WHO:

Allan Siefkin, chief medical officer of UC Davis Health System, will answer reporters' questions.

Copies of all news releases from UC Davis Health System are available on the Web at
http://news.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bonnie Hyatt Medical News Office, (916) 734-9040

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