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Contact: Rosie Smith FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel. (850)718-2696
Email: rsmith@jackhosp.org
JACKSON HOSPITAL DISASTER DRILL A SUCCESS
Multiple Disasters presented within Scenario
On March 21st, Jackson Hospital conducted a Disaster Drill with the two-fold purpose of obtaining feedback on 1) the proficiency of the tasks involved in critical internal hospital emergency response operations and 2) the integrated response with agencies such as the Jackson County Department of Health, Marianna Fire Department, Jackson County Fire & Rescue, local Law Enforcement Agencies, Jackson County Emergency Management and the volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Greg Grant, CHCSP, Safety Director for the Hospital, said, “The drill was very successful and the Community should be confident in the skills and professionalism of the hospital staff during a disaster.”
The drill scenario presented multiple health disasters in rapid succession. The first disaster event was the spreading of a pandemic flu from Tallahassee. Multiple people – CERT members who made convincing disaster victims -- presented at the Hospital’s Emergency Department with flu-like symptoms, triggering activation of the hospital’s pandemic influenza plan. This required communication with the Department of Health to advise of the arrival of pandemic influenza, as well as request necessary pandemic flu supplies, such as flu vaccine and other medications.
While this scenario played out, the next part of the drill began as the hospital operator received a suspicious call from a person claiming to be the leader of an activist group making threats against the hospital. Then the hospital’s mail carrier returned from the Hospital’s Business Office on Clinton Street with a package leaking a clear liquid. Parts of the hospital were evacuated to prevent additional exposure to this liquid, and hazardous materials teams were called to manage the leaking package. As patients arrived after being exposed to this liquid, which was determined to be a nerve agent, fully geared hospital DECON team personnel decontaminated these people outside before them into the emergency department for care. The hospital was in a lock-down status throughout the duration of the drill.
The exercise was externally reviewed by representatives from Burgess & Associates/Florida Hot Zone who observed the drill from the command center, DECON and triage. Post-drill they participated in the writing of an after-action report. Grant said, “We were successful in all the areas we were testing.” He added, “The outside agencies provided important information and outstanding response.”
Since 2001, the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations (JCAHO) has required hospitals to have an all hazards, comprehensive emergency management program and an Incident Command System consistent with that used by the community. Jackson Hospital’s Emergency Response Plan’s model is the Incident Command System (ICS) which follows the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS provides a consistent framework for incident management regardless of the cause, size, or complexity of the incident. NIMS provides first responders and authorities with the same foundation for incident management for terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
On January 17th, Jackson Hospital was one of two hospitals in Northwest Florida and one of 15 Hospitals in the State of Florida participating in a pilot training course to evaluate the Florida Department of Health’s “Biological Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery Toolkit.” 14 Jackson Hospital employees participated in the same Pilot Training presented to Baptist Medical Center in Pensacola. The Jackson Hospital team provided feedback on the training for incorporation into the final version of the Toolkit that will be used to train all Florida Hospitals.
Jackson Hospital’s mission is to provide the highest quality healthcare to those it serves, enhancing life in a compassionate environment. The hospital counts Jackson County and neighboring counties as its service area.
Jackson Hospital, a top 100 Hospital in the nation according to Thomson Healthcare, is the only Florida hospital in its size category to receive the 2006 Performance Improvement Leaders award. The Hospital provides in-patient, out-patient, and emergency care services from its main location in Marianna at 4250 Hospital Drive.
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