- October 28, 2021

The elevator at the 1917 Clinic at Dewberry was disabled by a lightning strike during an early morning storm before dawn last Thursday, 10/21/21. The elevator’s mother boards were damaged. The motherboards are the microprocessors-based circuits that control operations of the elevator. One motherboard was replaced last week. Unfortunately, due to the national semiconductor “chip” shortage and supply chain complexities, the elevator company cannot determine exactly when they will be able to supply the other replacement motherboard. Investigations for alternative sources from other elevator companies are underway to find a replacement.

Sadly, this does not remedy the immediate situation. Therefore, 1917 Clinic has altered some normal clinic operations (see below) to address the problem, circumvent possible safely issues and provide patient services.

Effective immediately,
• Appointments for patient coming by ambulance are being rescheduled.
• Lobby-based screeners and UAB Police Officers Pruitt and Calloway will inform patients that if they are unable climb up and down the stairs without “minimal assistance,” patients will need to reschedule appointments
• NO clinic personnel will provide assistance beyond hand-holding to assist a patient to ascend or descend the grand stairs. (If a patient were to fall while trying to ascend the stairs the patient and others could sustain significant injury.)
• Pharmacy : screeners will call 205-975-5007 for pharmacy assistance. Pharmacy personnel will assist in getting the prescription medications to the patients.
• Social Worker : Screeners will call the “walk-in MSW.”
• Medical : Screeners will call front desk. Clinic nurses will work with front desk personnel to:
  • Reschedule routine appointments
  • Urgent non-routine appointments may be conducted on a case by case basis in alternative examination rooms

We are very sorry for this inconvenience. We realizes that is not a good situation and ALL parties are working to resolve the challenge.