Like other hospitals in the state, the
Medical Center has long had a disaster plan in place,
as required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). But after September
11, 2001, refining the size, scope, and structure of
the plan became a top priority. “We needed to
rethink how to design the most flexible plan possible,”
says Eric Bachenheimer, Administrative Director of the
Department of Emergency Medicine.
The result is a carefully conceived, highly
adaptable plan known as an Incident Command Structure
(ICS). Based on a model developed in California, where
earthquakes and other large-scale disasters are not
uncommon, the approach calls for a flexible command
structure in which the most senior person available
serves as the “incident commander.” Reporting
to that person are various deputies.
“Each layer,” explains Bachenheimer,
“has a specific function that can be tailored
to just about any disaster.” Regardless of the
kind of threat—chemical, biological, or radiological—necessary
decisions and actions can be taken quickly. “The
best plan is one that is flexible enough to allow us
to adapt our responses accordingly.”
The key components of the preparedness
plan are training, equipment, and vaccination, and the
Medical Center has made significant strides in all three
areas. About 70 potential first responders from various
departments have received special training—from
learning how to don a HazMat suit to identifying different
types of toxic agents and their effects. Others will
be trained on a rotating basis. The Medical Center also
stages disaster drills, some consisting of simulated
patient influx.
Soon, the Medical Center will invite selected
staff members to participate in a voluntary smallpox
vaccination program.
As for equipment, precautions have been
taken on several fronts. In areas where airborne contaminants
could pose a threat, the ventilation systems have been
fitted with HEPA filters that can screen out microscopic
particles, such as anthrax spores or toxic chemical
molecules. Geiger counters are already on hand and radiation
detectors will arrive soon. The Outpatient Physical
Therapy Gymnasium a the Rusk Institute has been equipped
with a negative pressure ventilation system, making
it suitable for use as an isolation ward. Near the entrance
to the Emergency Room, decontamination showers have
been installed.
In the event of a crisis, Medical Center
officials would use long-range 800 MHz radios, operating
on a special frequency, to coordinate their efforts
with city agencies and other hospitals. They would also
be able to access a Healthcare Emergency Response Data
System (HERDS) through the Internet, allowing them to
exchange resources with other hospitals. "Preparation
is an ongoing process," notes Bachenheimer. "The
best defense really is a good offense."
For updates
on the Emergency Preparedness Plan and information on
bioterrorism, visit the Medical Center's intranet (http://intranet.nyumc.org),
and follow the link for "Manuals and Documents."
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