Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was evacuated Friday as flood waters ravaged the city.
The word “evacuation” is likely to make most hospital administrators cringe – and rightfully so. The history of healthcare facility evacuation is replete with stories of loss of lives lost, unprecedented risks taken and tough choices made beyond the window of opportunity. Events such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Iowa Floods of 2008 (right) have shown us that the lack of planning and preparedness leads to tragic loss of life and irreparable damage to communities.
When disaster strikes a hospital, our most vulnerable citizens suffer. Too often, the loss of life is preventable.
Residents of West Lawrence Care Center in Rockaway, Queens, were evacuated in advance of Hurricane Irene.
New York City’s recent activation of its healthcare facility evacuation plan provides an excellent example of how timely activation and notification strategies save lives. Evacuation decisions were made deliberately, with the clearest operational picture at the time and sufficiently in advance of the storm’s arrival. In addition to several major medical centers, many nursing facilities were also evacuated using local assets – notably, without the use of national guard or US Military. Additionally, homebound citizens with special medical needs were also safely relocated to safe areas. Through effective preparation, the right resources were available to complete the mission. Most importantly, no one was hurt in the operation.
Global ER’s preparedness team works with healthcare facility administrators to identify what decisions need to be made when. By developing clear decision-making timelines, operational phases and other critical tools, leadership can make life-saving choices at the right time with the right information.
The time to prepare your facility for evacuation is now – through the development of clear, actionable planning. We can help.
