Saint Francis - Hospital and Health Centers

Saint Francis Stages Disaster Drill

5/31/2012

“New York Fury,” a Triage Operational Exercise, was held Tuesday morning at Saint Francis Hospital, home to the busiest Level II Trauma Center in New York State. One of a series of state-wide drills overseen by the state Health Department, the purpose was to assess the hospital’s ability to activate its Command Center and establish a disaster triage (examination) area. Fifteen volunteer victims took part.

The scenario: A tornado strikes Sullivan County and then Ulster County where it destroys Benedictine Hospital before skipping across the Hudson River, damaging  Northern Dutchess Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Tornado victims and hospital patients begin arriving; their injuries are assessed and they are taken for treatment to the Emergency Department, Trauma Services, for x-rays, surgery, etc. Fifteen volunteer victims participated in the drill, several portraying one than one victim.

“We have added a few features to the state program,” explained Kent Amsden, the hospital’s safety coordinator at the Command Center which coordinated patients, clinical staff and other hospital personnel involved in the drill. “For example, by using our particular team at a different level to enhance our capabilities, we have met all the objectives that the state has asked for and that the hospital has suggested. We want all our people to be very familiar and aware of what we do in our hospital Command Center.”

      The drill lasted about an hour and was followed by an assessment involving all participants. An “after-action” report will now be submitted to the state.