FORT WORTH, Texas — John Peter Smith Hospital in says the purple elevators where an employee elevator accident occurred will remain closed and state inspectors have completed their on-site review of the elevator.
A JPS employee was seriously injured on Sunday but is receiving the "best care possible," according to an email from the CEO sent to employees.
The elevator, which has been in operation since 1993, passed inspection on April 4 of last year, according to a report obtained Thursday from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The report noted three violations – no fire extinguisher in an elevator machine room, a top light not guarded and a missing duct cover – but the violations weren't deemed to be significant and wouldn't affect the operation of the elevator.
JPS CEO Robert Earley asked employees for "continued prayers for her and her family" in an email sent Monday.
Earley confirmed the accident occurred on the purple patient elevator located on the 10th floor.
"I am so grateful to the JPS team members who responded heroically on Sunday and were able to help get their injured friend and teammate to the Emergency Department and on to ICU," Earley wrote in an email Monday. "Please know our Employee Assistance Program as well as members of our Spiritual Care team are available to anyone who wishes to talk."
According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, crews responded to JPS around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday to an elevator rescue call.
When they arrived, the patient was no longer stuck in the elevator and had been transported the emergency room at the hospital.
Jill "J.R" Labbe, vice president of communications for JPS, told WFAA all other elevators in the hospital were examined after the accident and deemed safe.