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 Over 40 “patients” exhibiting unusual respiratory symptoms were admitted to The Bellevue Hospital (TBH) over a three-day time period, as part of a biohazard disaster drill conducted at the local facility on Wednesday, April 12.

(Employees of The Bellevue Hospital (TBH) discuss procedures during a disaster drill held at TBH on April 12. Laurie Trapp, RN, and Patti Adams, RN, (foreground) discuss procedures in the Emergency Department. Shown in the background are Emily Wadsworth, ER Director, Tammi Lewis, Operating Room/Family Birthing Center Director, and Jennifer Seamon, Operating Room coordinator.)

The 2½-hour disaster drill, involving all departments and staff members, was conducted in cooperation with Four County EMS and the Bellevue Health Department. The drill assists these local agencies in evaluating and coordinating their disaster plans.

The training is part of the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS), established for healthcare facilities in 1991.

“Dummy” patients were used during the drill, and, although no actual supplies were used to “treat” the victims, staff members used stickers and signs to signify diagnosis, method of treatment, care instructions, etc.

(Here, TBH department directors check-in and receive their assignments from the command center. Pictured are Emily Wadsworth, Emergency Department; Chris Hirt, Pharmacy; Kathy Scheid, Facility & Resource Management; and Amy White, Lab.)

“We were very pleased with the outcome of the practice session. A large-scale drill such as this allows us to see how the facility would react to an influx of patients suffering from a particular disease,” said Patricia Semer, Vice President of Ancillary Services at TBH.

“The process also allows us to practice how we would get the word out to the public and how we would go about contacting other emergency agencies and organizations in the event of a real crisis.”

 Semer added that hospitals are regulated to conduct at least two safety drills each year. “This is an on-going process. We have had many safety drills in the past and we will continue to perform these types of drills in the future.”

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The Bellevue Hospital, 1400 W. Main Street - P O Box 8004, Bellevue, Ohio  44811-8004    419-483-4040
Last modified: 06/12/06