Hospital responds after parking garage safety questioned

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – A video circulating on social media prompted a response by Pikeville Medical Center.

The video shows movement at a joint in the hospital’s parking garage as vehicles drive over it.

Pikeville Medical Center posted this statement on social media Tuesday:

“PMC has been made aware of a video posted on social media on Feb. 10 showing movement at a joint in the parking garage as vehicles drive over it. We understand the concerns voiced by the post and the comments. Movement at certain joints in the garage is not a new issue. Some degree of movement within a concrete garage is not unexpected given expansion and contraction with weather changes. However, PMC has been working with the installer of the garage regarding this matter over the past year and will continue to do so. As a matter of fact, an underside beam had already been installed below the joint shown in the video for additional reinforcement.

Please note that PMC has engaged professional consulting engineers who have inspected the garage on multiple occasions, including as recently as a few weeks ago. These engineers did not recommend discontinuing use of the areas shown in the video or of any other areas of the garage and have directly indicated that the joint movement is not a life safety issue. As an added precaution and at our request, the engineers have also reviewed the video posted on social media and have not changed their opinion. Likewise, the installer of the garage has employed its own consulting engineers. The installer’s engineers are aware of the movement and have not voiced a concern that the garage is unsafe for use. The installer has also reviewed the video and has stated that this condition does not present an immediate danger. Of course, PMC will continue to monitor joint movement in the garage.

There were several inaccurate statements in the comments to the video. There have not been any failures or construction-related incidents in the garage that have led to damage, injury, or death of anyone. PMC has not ever been fined or cited in any way as it relates to the construction or safety of the parking garage. Safety of our patients and visitors is a top priority. PMC manages over 50 facilities and over two million square feet of space. Our well-trained safety and facilities team does an amazing job each day.

Thank you for your continued support.”

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