PHOENIX — A hospital in the Valley is facing significant challenges after being without air conditioning for several days, leading to the transfer of nearly 100 patients to other facilities. The St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center, located near 16th Street and Van Buren, lost its air conditioning on Thursday afternoon. Although a new chiller was delivered over the weekend, a whistleblower from the hospital claims that this issue has been indicative of deeper, unresolved problems.
A nurse at St. Luke’s reported that there have been ongoing issues with the building’s HVAC system for several years. He expressed that concerns regarding what would happen in the event of a breakdown were previously raised but went unanswered. When the system failed last week, he described the situation as chaotic due to a lack of a prepared response plan.
“Administration gave no direction of what to do, and it was just chaos,” he said.
The nurse, who has worked at St. Luke’s for five years, highlighted that the facility caters to individuals with mental health issues, including many children who are there via court orders. Wishing to remain anonymous for job security, he recounted being present when the air conditioning stopped functioning.
“This wasn’t just a bad luck situation; this was a problem that this company has known about for many years and had refused to fix it,” he stated.
He mentioned that temperatures inside the building soared to dangerous levels and some patients were confined to hot rooms for over 24 hours post-breakdown. Both insurance companies and state officials were reportedly involved in ensuring the safe transfer of all patients.
“They’re sitting in there for over 24 hours in temperatures almost reaching 100 degrees with no ice, no answers, and they can’t even get out. They’re locked in there,” the nurse said, emphasizing the added trauma for patients with existing mental health issues.
The nurse also indicated that poor communication has left staff unsure about their work status and pay, given that many are not working during this incident.
St. Luke’s has not addressed these specific claims or concerns but acknowledged the mechanical issues in a statement released on Sunday.
“St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center began experiencing mechanical issues with the chillers that help power our primary HVAC system at the end of last week. A new chiller arrived this weekend and is currently being used to cool the facility. However, to ensure safety related to the heat, we have safely relocated 98 patients to other behavioral health facilities, consistent with our patient safety protocols. The health and safety of all our patients is our top priority, and we will continue to inform patients, families, and the community as we address this issue,” the statement read.
St. Luke’s is owned by Steward Health Care, which filed for bankruptcy in May and announced that its four Arizona hospitals would be auctioned off, prompting an investigation by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
The whistleblower noted that the auction process begins soon and underscores growing anxiety among staff regarding job stability.
“The biggest reason that I’m speaking up now is I got into this to advocate for patients, and this being swept under the rug is just unacceptable,” the nurse remarked. “If it was their family member, they would probably feel a lot differently about it.”
At this time, it remains uncertain when the air conditioning will be fully operational or when patients can return to the hospital. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.