TOPEKA (KSNT) - Two Topeka hospitals entered diversion status Tuesday at their emergency rooms, coordinating with each other on how to handle incoming patients. On Tuesday, Oct. 22 Stormont Vail Health went into diversion status and needed to coordinate with St. Francis to intake emergency room patients. Stormont Vail Health spokeswoman Anita Fry said the hospital was under a diversion until around midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 22 and that these situations happen occasionally. She said when both hospitals are on an Emergency Department (ED) diversion ambulances rotate from one hospital to the other. Fry said both hospitals went into a diversion at the same time Tuesday. "When Stormont Vail is on ED diversion we remain open to traumas and anyone who arrives by private vehicle or walk-in," Fry said. Hospital operations continue as usual when there is an ED diversion. Fry said only non-trauma ambulance transportation is impacted by diversions. When St. Francis and Stormont Vail are both under a diversion at the same time, the community plan is to accept every other ambulance. What happens if a candidate dies after ballots are printed in Kansas? "At Stormont Vail, the decision to go on ED diversion is based on a scoring system that takes into account the ED census and the acuity level of patients," Fry said. "We want to provide care as soon as possible and assist patients needing emergent care." "As background, diversion status helps hospitals manage capacity during high-volume periods by asking EMS to temporarily transport some patients to other area hospitals," St. Francis spokeswoman Debbie Cluck said. "Hospitals continue to accept patients and provide care while on divert." For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.