t r o p e 6R THE HEALTH NETWORK OF THE CHESTER COUNTY HOSPITAL I WINTER 2007 00l 2 a u n n A IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENC Y WE’RE READY Plus, easy ways to prepare 3 your family CELEBRATE ‘NUTRITION MONTH’ IN MARCH! Y C T H L R H E F L I U T S O H E A V I N G I S E E A Are you feeling lost at sea, wondering how to eat well and manage your weight? Are you tired of trying to navigate the waters of conflicting nutritional information? Join us and cruise the sea of healthy eating. Learn from our registered dietitian, Amy Corse, RD, the latest nutritional information on the new Food Guide Pyramid, weight management, and how to eat healthy for life without dieting. Light refreshments will be served. M A R CH 22, 7:00–8:30 PM I F E R N HILL W E LLNE SS R E S OUR CE C E N T E R I F R E E OF CHA R G E I R E G IST R AT I ON 610-431-5644 STOP SMOKING NOW! Breast Health, An eight-week cessation program, StopSmokingNow! helps you develop a plan to become a nonsmoker. Through a This scCreeninag isn focr weomre n oSver c40r wehoe dno niot nhavge s combination of education, behavior modification, relaxation health insurance, and is partly funded by the techniques and physical activity, this program teaches you the tools you need to take this important step. Using infor- Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation. The screening mation and strategies researched by the American Cancer includes mammogram and clinical breast exam. Society, and Heart and Lung Associations, the class meets weekly to help identify your smoking triggers and deal MARCH 31, 8 AM – 12 NOON with your withdrawal symptoms. MARCH 19 – MAY 7: MONDAYS, 7:00–8:30 PM CANCER CENTER OF CHESTER COUNTY FERN HILL WELLNESS RESOURCE CENTER REGISTRATION 610-431-5644 FREE OF CHARGE. REGISTRATION 610-431-5130 $75 PER PERSON (No charge for non-smoking support person) CONTENTS 2 In Case of Emergency… There is always the question “What if ?” And as the news media shares stories of emergency situations in other regions, whether they are natural or man-made situations, locally we ask ourselves, “What if that were to happen here?” It’s a scary PECIAL FEATURE thought. At The Chester County Hospital, we are using this time to make sure we S have a plan when a plan is needed. In case of an emergency, we are prepared. 11 Annual Report 2006 4 Three Easy Steps to Prepare Your Household With an introductory message by H.L. Perry Pepper, President and CEO of The Chester County Just as we are planning, we encourage our community to plan too. To help you get Hospital, the Annual Report acknowledges and started, we’ve assembled a few tips for building your own emergency preparedness plan. thanks the numerous individuals and businesses that supported the Hospital financially between 6 Manpower, Money and Machines: July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. Resources for Successful Emergency Preparation Supporting every good plan is a network of people, financial help and technology. The Chester County Hospital is strengthening its resources so that it can work effectively during emergency situations, either at the Hospital or beyond with neighboring hospitals. 8 Movers, Shakers, Newsmakers Find out about fascinating people and events at The Chester County Hospital. New Doctors Join the Team Cover Photo: If they are needed, the members of the 9 Hospital’s team are ready. Representing the 50-member Meet and learn more about the incredibly talented new physicians that have team are (from left) Paramedic Supervisor Adrienne Pohar, Director of Safety and Security Ron Takacs, Director of recently joined The Chester County Hospital. Infection Prevention and Control Charleen Faucette, Director of Paramedic Services John Felicetti, and Director of Emergency Services Donna Froio. THE CHESTER COUNTY HOSPITAL 1 1 In case of When the unforgettable images of disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the emergency... Indian Ocean Tsunami or the tragic events of September 11 flash onto our television sets, the magnitude of the communication 2 devastation to other communities is problems existed difficult to comprehend. As a nation, between the EMTs we pitch in to help our neighbors in and the local hospitals it supported when any number of ways. As individuals, community emergency situations arose. we become more aware of the world By the early 1990s nine hospitals support- around us. As a medical facility, ed by that California EMT unit had our reaction is to prepare. implemented the new plan, and by the Over the course of the past five years late 1990s, HEICS was adopted by the Command System. The system is com- 3 as both natural and man-made disasters Joint Commission on Accreditation of prised of 50 men and women who in the have created a heightened sense of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as event of a true wide-scale emergency awareness in all of us, The Chester its standard. are called to action to manage the County Hospital has taken that time to “It worked so well HEICS began to situation, each responsible for a specific develop an emergency preparedness spread out to different areas,” said The task, while still maintaining the regular plan. The plan that the Hospital has Chester County Hospital’s Director of functions and activity at the Hospital. adopted and adapted is a universal Safety and Security Ron Takacs, who For example, Hospital President, H.L. 4 system for all-hazard preparation. is also the Hospital’s Emergency Perry Pepper fulfills the role of Incident Known as the Hospital Preparedness Coordinator. The Hospital Commander. He is the person in charge Emergency Incident began its own implementation of the to lead the Hospital through such an Command System plan in April 2004, so that in the event event. He is surrounded by positions (HEICS), the system of a local or regional emergency, the such as Public Information Officer, was developed in the Hospital team can manage a crisis and Safety and Security Officer, Liaison late 1980s in southern work easily with other medical organiza- Officer, Logistics Chief, Planning Chief, 5 California by an tions in the County that have also imple- Finance Chief and Operations Chief. The team and the Emergency Medical mented the HEICS system. Each of these men and women then has Incident Command Technician (EMT) The foundation of the HEICS plan additional people reporting to them about Center during a drill. unit that recognized rests on the organization of an Incident the current situation in various areas, 2 SYNAPSE such as the Emergency Department, employees. We want to make sure their team develops a comfort level in reacting supply levels, staffing, and facility issues. needs are met and that all are well cared to these things” so that it becomes sec- PRACTICE MAKES “It’s a very structured way of assign- for whether it’s a crisis situation or just a ond nature if the Incident Command ing tasks and ensuring that we’re not regular work day at the Hospital. By System really needed to be activated, perfect leaving anything undone,” says Takacs, planning for worst-case scenarios now, says Faucette. who serves as the Safety and Security we will be more prepared to address The Command System is designed to Officer for the HEICS plan. the needs of our community and our react to any type of hazard, from bioter- In agreement, Hospital Director of Hospital family.” rorism to power outages. To guarantee Infection Prevention and Control, Having a plan on paper is one facet; the Hospital is prepared fully, planning Charleen Faucette (who fulfills the HEICS the other is to put the plan into action. groups have been created to address Infection Control Director role) notes, “Not only do we talk about it,” says specific scenarios making headlines “The Chester County Hospital’s HEICS Faucette, “we conduct drills.” To date, across the world. For nearly a year, a plan is really designed to have all the the Hospital has run 16 drills on-paper group of the Hospital’s executive and clin- right decision-makers in the room.” and five live drills covering numerous ical leaders has met regularly to establish Over the course of the past few years, the The benefit of the HEICS plan is that it is types of disasters, including those that a Pandemic Response Plan. This specific team and leaders at The Chester County expandable. If the emergency situation is are hot topics in the news and realistic scenario would follow the structure of the Hospital have practiced many timely sce- major, all 50 people on the team can be threats in the County. HEICS plan, but would address concerns narios that could pose a potential health engaged; if the situation is minor, subsets During a recent drill 26 people from unique to an influenza pandemic, such as risk to the community. Some of the drills of the team can be set into motion. In the Hospital’s Operational HEICS team what the Hospital would do if there were the Hospital has run to enact and test the addition, roles and responsibilities are gathered in the main board room to get a sudden surge of contagious patients. Command Center Team include: well documented and mobile, so that if, The Hospital is strategizing on briefed on a “hypothetical situation.” I Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome for example, the Patient Tracking Officer Then, armed with their walkie-talkies, Pandemic responsiveness now by build- (SARS) health risk is offsite during a situation that arises in identification vests and leadership ing up a stock of necessary medical sup- I Portable Decontamination Tent speed drill the middle of the night, another equally- responsibilities, the team returned to plies and developing relationships with I Chemical (ammonia) release in West Chester capable person can be assigned those where they would normally be during a outside organizations for support if responsibilities and will know exactly typical day, and role played a Severe needed, rather than waiting to plan in I Tornado what to do.