Because hospitals in Gulf Coast states are already full with medical patients who were forced to evacuate when Katrina hit, the probability that Kentucky hospitals will receive evacuees is good.

The hospitals, including seven in Lexington, were put on standby yesterday as part of the National Disaster Medical System, which moves hospitalized non-ambulatory people from one part of the country to another during a national disaster.

"It's not definite that they are coming," said Desti Stimes, spokeswoman for the VA Medical Center in Lexington. "It means we need to be prepared."

Gulf Coast Hospitals Full

The VA Medical Center is the coordinating facility and would disperse patients to area hospitals as they arrive in Lexington.

Patients would be flown to Lexington's Blue Grass Airport, then transported by ambulance to the hospitals.

Because hospitals in Gulf Coast states are already full with medical patients who were forced to evacuate when Hurricane Katrina hit, the probability that Lexington will receive evacuees is good, city officials say.

On Standby

The Lexington hospitals that might receive patients are: University of Kentucky Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph East Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, Samaritan Hospital, Central Baptist Hospital and Ridge Behavioral Health System in Lexington.

The University of Kentucky Hospital prepared yesterday to take care of up to 12 patients, said Amanda Nelson, spokeswoman for the hospital.

Other Central Kentucky hospitals that are also on standby are: Bourbon Community Hospital in Paris, Clark Regional Medical Center in Winchester, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville, Frankfort Regional Medical Center, Georgetown Community Hospital, Mary Chiles Hospital in Mount Sterling, Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center in Richmond and Haggin Memorial Hospital in Harrodsburg.