Hospital Ramps Up for 2008 Storm Season
NEW ORLEANS - In preparation for the 2008 hurricane season, Ochsner Health System has upgraded its hospital disaster plan and implemented additional safeguards to withstand future storms, ensure patient safety, and provide for essential hospital staff in the event of severe weather.
"The hospital is taking no chances this season and we're prepared for an active storm season. Our top priority is the safety of our patients and employees, and we're prepared for what the future may bring," explains Warner Thomas, President and COO of Ochsner Health System. "During Katrina, Ochsner served as a critical resource for critically ill patients both during and after the storm." Ochsner continues to update its disaster preparedness plan. Below are a few of the latest upgrades for 2008:
Hospitalized Patients: In the event of a Category 4 storm or higher, patients in certain high-risk categories will be transferred to Ochsner-designated hospitals outside the threat zone, all other patients will remain.
Communications for each hospital: Designated Incident Command Centers are located at Ochsner hospitals to ensure communication remains intact internally and with outside agencies throughout periods of severe weather. These communication options include satellite phones, internal cell phones, exterior cell phones, HAM radios with operators, 800 MHz radios, and HEAR radios. Ochsner regularly tests and drills these systems internally, and with Parish, state and federal emergency agencies.
Employees: During severe weather and other disasters, Ochsner is committed to maintaining appropriate staffing to ensure patient care needs are met in the safest environment possible. Essential employees are designated as Team A or Team B and report for duty before, during and after periods of severe weather.
Essential Supplies: Ochsner has increased supplies in order to maintain a state of self-sufficiency for at least 14 days and replenishment immediately thereafter.
Electrical: Three additional generators have been installed at Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway, one generator at Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank and one at Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner to provide additional air conditioning and power. Similar infrastructure improvements are underway at other Ochsner locations.
Water: A 650-foot well at Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway provides running water in the event of a disaster. Ochsner's existing 200-foot well will serve as back-up. Connections for a water tanker have been installed in the event that both wells fail. Wells have been drilled and connections installed at Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner and Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank.
Ochsner Health System (www.ochsner.org) is a non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system dedicated to patient care, research and education. The system includes seven hospitals and over 35 health centers located throughout Southeast Louisiana. Ochsner employs over 600 physicians in 80 medical specialties and subspecialties and 450 clinical research trials annually. Ochsner was ranked one of the "Best Places to Work" by New Orleans CityBusiness in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and received the Consumer Choice for Healthcare in New Orleans for 12 consecutive years. Ochsner was ranked as "Best" Hospital by U.S. News and World Report in July 2007. Ochsner has over 10,000 employees system-wide.
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