By Damian Guevara
Plain Dealer Reporter

Area hospitals and nursing care centers, powered by their own auxiliary energy sources, smoothly continued to care for their patients during yesterday's power outage, officials said.

Doctors, nurses and caregivers continued to perform major surgeries and run delivery and emergency rooms, according to staff at several facilities.

Patients with serious needs remained in intensive care unites.

"All patients are taken care of," said Robert Kay, chief of staff for the Cleveland Clinic's hospital complex on Euclid Avenue. "We have enough power for days on end."

Workers, patients and visitors momentarily huddled outside buildings at the Cleveland Clinic as the hospital implemented its crisis plan.

An emergency generator continued to power important facilities, staff said. The auxiliary power allowed doctors to finish critical surgeries yesterday afternoon, Kay said. Minor surgeries and outpatient appointments, however, were cancelled.

A building receiving outpatient visitors was also closed. The backup power allowed seriously-ill patients to stay at the hospital. Select areas remained air-conditioned and there enough water for patients, Kay said.

Meanwhile, members of the clinic's police force directed traffic on surrounding streets as unneeded workers went home.

Other hospitals working on backup power included MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals, Southwest General Health Center, Parma Community General and Akron Children's hospitals. The Veterans Affairs Hospital in Brecksville also continued operating on backup power, staff reported.

At University Hospitals, generators kicked in as soon as power faded. Lights were on in the hospital, but there was no airconditioning, spokeswoman Alicia Reale said. Fans were brought in to the intensive care units and labor and delivery rooms.

In many cases, hospitals cut off power to non-essential facilities. For example at Southwest General Health Center, power to the business office was cut off while patient floors and emergency and operating rooms remained powered, said Mary Van Dalen, a hospital spokeswoman.

Royal Oak Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Middleburg Heights and the Maple Care Center in Maple Heights also continued giving care. Staff a the Maple Heights center said all nursing homes must follow Medicare and Medicaid requirements that include the installation of backup generators and backup lights in rooms and corridors.

Plain Dealer reporters Jennifer Gonzalez and Sarah Treffinger contributed to this article.