Broken air conditioning pipes flooded the upper floors of Mercy Medical Center – West Lakes in West Des Moines this morning, which required the hospital to relocate the majority of its patients to its downtown campus, hospital officials said.

The damage was caused early this morning when air conditioning cooling pipes on the seventh floor of the hospital broke. Mercy officials said the cause of the break is unknown at this time. The seventh floor is not a patient care area, but the water did cause damage to some areas of other floors.

The hospital’s emergency department and outpatient services remain open for walk-in patients. Today’s surgeries, cardiac cath lab and imaging procedures have been rescheduled at other Mercy locations, the hospital said in a press release. The 146-bed hospital opened in September 2009.

Mechanical and facilities teams are on site to assess the damage, make repairs and clean all affected areas as well as restore air conditioning to the facility. Mercy officials said they hope to have all areas of the hospital reopened and available again for inpatient admissions tomorrow.

All patients with scheduled procedures at Mercy West Lakes today have been notified of location changes. Anyone needing information about a family member who was an inpatient at Mercy West Lakes today, may call 515-247-3121.