Redundancy ensures smooth operations
The ED at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, had to be moved to another floor on July 13, as flood waters filled the hospital's lower levels. Despite having to uproot patients and equipment, the ED remained in constant contact with internal and external resources due to the presence of redundant communications options.
The ED was moved late that afternoon, and remained in operation (although on diversion) until 1 a.m., when it was evacuated. During that time, its electronic medical record system and main phone system remained operational. In addition, several other modes of communication were available to the staff. "As part of the hospital's disaster plan, we had some cell phones set aside for a disaster, and they were distributed out to key areas like ours," says Chad Ware, RN, CEN, the ED's program coordinator. The area's cellular system never went down, he says.
In addition, the department had two-way radios. "They were used by our maintenance department, who placed sandbags around the building," says Ware.
You have to have redundancy in your communications, says Tammy Meier, RN, CEN, ED director. In fact, adds Ware, there was one more mode of communications that was essential for the smooth transfer of patients. "The state of Iowa has a radio network, and every ED has one," he says. "We were able to broadcast information about patients, bed counts, and so on." The patients' charts were printed and sent with them when they were transferred.
The ED at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, had to be moved to another floor on July 13, as flood waters filled the hospital's lower levels. Despite having to uproot patients and equipment, the ED remained in constant contact with internal and external resources due to the presence of redundant communications options.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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