Heightened security today at University Medical Center in New Orleans resulted in the hospital not allowing visitors for a brief time.
WWL First News has learned that some sort of conflict outside the hospital's emergency room last night put the complex on heightened alert.
For a few hours following the incident, visitors were not allowed into the hospital. Anyone with an appointment or an emergency was still allowed inside.
University Medical Center released this statement Tuesday afternoon:
The health and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors is our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution, University Medical Center New Orleans temporarily paused patient visitation this morning due to a telephone threat, which after investigation by NOPD, was determined to not be credible. At no time was patient care interrupted in our hospital, clinics, or Emergency Department.
After consulting with Hospital Public Safety and the NOPD, we have reopened visitation.
