National Preparedness Month: Prepared to Care

In an emergency – natural or man-made – everyone stands up for the benefit of the community and does what’s right: care for people. That’s why we recognize September as National Preparedness Month, plan for emergency situations, and remain at the ready for our communities in times of need.

The success of preparedness is, first and foremost, having a plan in advance. Building solid relationships within that plan and before a disaster strikes are equally as important.  Take, for instance, the recent storms in Florida that resulted in a lightning strike and a subsequent power outage at affiliate Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point on last Wednesday. Coordination from local emergency agencies – an estimated 70 emergency medical services (EMS) ambulances, 10 fire engine companies, 10 local sheriff units and three ambulance buses – our HCA Healthcare West Florida hospitals and, of course, the tireless efforts of the Bayonet Point team, more than 200 patients were successfully evacuated without incident.

The HCA Healthcare corporate office, led by Emergency Preparedness, in collaboration with our West Florida Division, remained in constant communication with Bayonet Point to provide our full support and any resources needed before, during and after the storm. From Nashville, we helped facilitate the delivery of a high-powered generator at Bayonet within the hour.

Situational awareness is critical for emergency preparedness, too. Every licensed HCA Healthcare hospital has an emergency management committee to access potential hazards in the region – chemical, technological or weather-related – and to plan accordingly.

When the rain began to fall in Louisiana three weeks ago, our Women’s & Children’s Hospital disaster response team came together immediately to determine how to shelter in place and prepare and distribute meals to patients and staff. Their hospital, thankfully, was undamaged, but their emergency plan was in put into place at the earliest possible time – and that’s what we instill in all our facilities across the country.

As one of the leading healthcare organizations in the nation, with 26 million patient encounters per year, it goes without saying that people are our priority. Whether it’s a hurricane in Florida or a flood in Louisiana, we are prepared to provide the most effective coordination of care and uninterrupted patient service in our communities.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for emergencies, too:

• Have a family plan – Everyone should know where to meet in an emergency; single individuals should communicate this information with family and friends in the area;
• Understand the risks – What natural hazards are common in your region? Know those risks and have a plan to relocate to a safer area in advance and have information on how to protect your home;
• Prepare an emergency kit – Have those critical everyday items ready to go with you and every family member you’re caring for, including, but not limited to, a three to five day supply of prescriptions, eyeglasses, a change of clothes, and bottled water, for example.

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort encouraging Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies. Visit Ready.Gov here for more tips to help plan for an emergency.

Michael Wargo

Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Preparedness and Emergency Operations