Hospitals prepare for Hurricane Matthew

People needing prescription medication advised to get refills before storm

Memorial Healthcare System has a plan in place in the event of Hurricane Matthew.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. ā€“ South Florida hospitals are making provisions in advance of Hurricane Matthew.

Memorial Healthcare System in Broward County has canceled all elective surgeries and outpatient procedures scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

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The hospitals administered by Memorial Healthcare System are Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Regional Hospital South, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Memorial Hospital West, Memorial Hospital Miramar and Memorial Hospital Pembroke.

Expectant mothers who are at least 36 weeks pregnant, or deemed "high risk," are being urged to report to their hospitals no later than four hours before the storm's anticipated landfall.

Doctors are also being asked to discharge all medically appropriate patients.

All elective procedures scheduled for Thursday at Nicklaus Children's Hospital main campus have also been canceled.

Pharmacists in South Florida are also busy making sure customers get their necessary prescriptions.

"It's good for people to know, even if they only have a week supply of their medication, they can go to the pharmacy and request an early refill," Ronny Ramirez told Local 10 News. "Most insurances will allow you to get an early refill when they know a storm is coming."

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is ready to assist any special needs residents, but they must be registered with Miami-Dade County.

"Our focus is on the people that are dependent on power, whether it's a monitor or a ventilator or something like that," Chief Dave Downey said.

County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said there are pre-existing agreements with area hospitals to take in electrically dependent residents in the event of a power outage.

Gimenez said emergency shelters are on standby.

"If it's going to impact us worse than what we think, than we will probably be opening at least three shelters in Miami-Dade County, and our elderly population can avail themselves into those shelters," Gimenez said.

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