At Winter Haven Hospital, Buddy Kindrick, Director of
Safety, recently sought a grant from HRSA (Health Administration Resource
Services) to help assure the staff of the hospital was ready for any
large-scale disaster.
With the assistance of Dan Runyon, Regional Emergency
Planning Coordinator for the state region 7, and Dr. Daniel Haight,
Co-Chairman of the Health and Medical Subcommittee of the Tampa Bay
Regional Domestic Security Task Force and Director of the Polk County
Health Department, Mr. Kindrick applied for and received a $98,125.00 grant
on August 22, 2002.
The grant provides funds
for three specific areas:
1. Personal protection equipment
2.
Training
3. Exercises and drills
Winter Haven Hospital was one of the first hospitals in
Florida to receive such a grant.
To date twenty-seven people at Winter Haven Hospital
have been extensively trained in Disaster Preparedness and are now
certified. These individuals are well versed in putting on personal
protection equipment, which generally takes at least 15 minutes with 3
people assisting. The staff are from the following hospital departments:
Emergency Services, Security, Engineering, Safety, Nutrition Services,
Environmental Services and the Clinical Laboratory.
In November 2002 a comprehensive drill was conducted
involving the numerous agencies that would be impacted by a major local
disaster--Winter Haven Hospital, County EMS, both Winter Haven and Lake
Wales Fire and Police Departments, the American Red Cross, the Sheriff's
Department and Polk County Fire/Haz-Mat . Planning included State
Farm employees and the actual mock event centered at the State Farm
Regional Office Building.
Twenty-seven students from local high schools
participated as “patients” in a simulated chemical disaster.
Two ambulances transported the mock patients to Winter Haven Hospital where
they were decontaminated in a specially designed decontamination area
outside the Emergency Department. As part of the drill the Winter
Haven Police Department SWAT Team (Special Weapons Assault Team) played a
very active role.
On March 12, 2003 Emergency Response Teams from the
entire District 7 area, (Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands, Hardee, Citrus
Hernando, Sumter, Pasco, Pinellas, and Manatee) participated in a mock
disaster at Lakeland Regional Airport. High School students
participated as mock patients and Winter Haven Hospital received 20
patients who were triaged and decontaminated. A physician expert from New
Hampshire evaluated the drill. The evaluations were excellent as once
again numerous agencies participated very competently.
One of the new team of physicians from the University
of Florida staffing the Winter Haven Hospital Emergency Department, Dr.
Julie Shamas, has extensive experience in Emergency Preparedness and has
been involved since joining the hospital in July 2003.
On August 20, 2003 a "table top" drill was
conducted with numerous agencies participating.
In September a "smallpox drill" took place in
the Emergency Department of Winter Haven Hospital. Mr. Kindrick has
noted,"prior to 9\11 the hospital had at least 2 drills annually, and
checklists were completed to assure people knew their responsibilities. In
those days we thought about hurricanes or tornadoes. As a result of
9\11 we were forced to re-think all of the disaster possibilities and be
ready for them. The grant requires we have at least 4 drills a year and
they are now much more realistic, comprehensive and varied with multiple
different scenarios.”
Dr. Haight recognized Winter Haven Hospital staff by
saying; “Winter Haven Hospital employees and physicians have
proactively sought the necessary grant and extensive training to deal with
multiple types of disaster possibilities. They deserve significant
credit for their leadership in this state wide initiative.
Hospital President Lance Anastasio states, “we
are trained and ready to respond appropriately to a possible
disaster.”
