By Joshua Angle

jjangle@lexhealth.org

Lexington Medical Center prepared for the worst Hurricane Florence might do here. The hospital staff:

• Activated a disaster watch plan, which gathered key decision makers to ensure flow of information and coordinated strategic planning.

• Provided daily updates from the SC Hospital Association and SCDHEC briefings.

• Participated in bed census updates every 6 hours to the State’s Bed Reporting Accountability Tool and provided daily updates on LMC’s ability to accept coastal patients.

• Admitted 4 patients from evacuating coastal hospitals.

• Extended Care accepted 15 evacuated nursing home patients.

• A core disaster preparedness team made up of Public Safety, Engineering, Nursing, Environmental Services, Pharmacy, Nutrition, Materials Management and Administration worked closely together to address the overall needs of the hospital and our practices.

• Engaged Human Resources and all hospital directors to ensure adequate staffing to provide quality healthcare for the community.

• Increased inventory of all essential supplies, pharmaceuticals, nutrition and linens.

• Activated mutual aid vendor agreements with them on stand-by.

• Set up sleeping quarters for essential personnel to avoid them having to travel during the storm.

• Increased Child Care Center capacity to provide staff with options to care for their children.

• Staged cots and other care essentials in pre-identified areas to shelter DHEC identified special medical needs shelter residents. Facility Services to ensure the campus was prepared to endure the impending rain and wind:

• Topped off generators and vehicle fuel tanks to provide the campus with days of generator capability.

• Ensured any loose debris or objects around campus were secured from becoming a hazard.

• Worked with our construction company to ensure the new hospital project was prepared for the storm.

• Emptied all trash cans and dumpsters campus-wide.

• Evaluated & Cleared all storm drains on the main campus and throughout the health district to prepare for storm runoff.

• Performed an safety audit on many trees surrounding campus and off site locations to identify those that. posed a risk to visitors, patients and personnel

• Staged sandbags and sump pumps around locations prone to flooding.

• Staged containers of non-potable water in clinical area in preparation for the loss of water pressure (to ensure toilet flushing).

Our disaster management team kept hospital administrators well informed, hour by hour, throughout all stages of this weather emergency.

Public Safety personnel conducted regular patrols of buildings for any signs of wind or rain damage

The hospital did not experience any issues during the storm, and normal operations were never disrupted.

Joshua Angle is with LMC’s Public Safety Department.