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Trained to respond at a moment’s notice, the team at Hudson Hospital & Clinics is ready for disasters or emergency crisis, which can happen anywhere and at any time. Whether it’s severe weather, mass casualty accidents, industrial disasters or the pandemic flu (to name a few possibilities), the hospital is prepared to care for individuals and the community.
Hospital is highly trained to respond to disaster
When it comes to preparing for disaster, Hudson Hospital & Clinics goes well beyond what is necessary to comply with state and federal requirements. The organization seeks out grants to support additional training to strengthen its response.
“Our staff is enthusiastic about emergency response,” said Sara Rose, registered nurse and chair of the hospital’s emergency management committee. “We have received grant funding for isolation rooms, decontamination equipment, communications and security equipment.”
Here are a few examples of how Hudson Hospital & Clinics continually prepares to protect you in a disaster:
Weapons of mass destruction – Hospital and St. Croix EMS & Rescue staff co-hosted a three-day event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The course was offered to St. Croix County hospital emergency management staff, EMS agencies and WITC-New Richmond nursing program students. It provided training for first responders at many levels – awareness, operations, technician and incident command.
The course also equipped pre-hospital and hospital medical personnel with the skills needed to ensure proper patient triage, treatment and transportation in the event of exposure to weapons of mass destruction, which are chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons.
Drills – Two hospital-wide drills were activated in 2007. Hudson Hospital & Clinics also participated in one regional drill in December 2007 as an active member of the West Central Regional Trauma Advisory Council.
Community training – In April 2008, Hudson Hospital & Clinics participated in a community-wide training exercise at City Hall to help improve on-scene incident management. Sponsored by the City of Hudson, the exercise educated participants about the National Incident Management System (NIMS). In a real incident, the hospital would be working with others in the community, across the region, and throughout the state. This training exercise and drill provided the opportunity to practice “unified command.” It also helped participants more fully understand the major components of an Incident Command System and appropriate roles and responses expected of each of them in a disaster or crisis.
Laboratory – The Medical Laboratory at Hudson Hospital & Clinics completed a series of training modules focusing on the lab’s role in emergency prepareness, including recognition of possible bioterrorism agents and emerging infectious disease in patient specimens. This voluntary extra effort won lab manager Bob Janicek and his staff 2008 recognition from the Wisconsin Laboratory Response Network.
Collaboration with other hospitals – Hudson Hospital & Clinics provides representation at all regional Wisconsin Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program (WHEPP) meetings. All Wisconsin hospitals are invited and encouraged to attend. Hudson Hospital & Clinics is a voluntary and very active member.
Do you have a story to share?
Tell us about a positive experience or the impact a hospital interaction, program or service has had on your life.
Would you like to partner with us to improve community health?
Contact Karen Hansen, Marketing & Community Relations at (715) 531-6056 or karen.m.hansen@hudsonhospital.org.
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