Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals March 10 disaster drill
March 4, 2009
Patient care, surgeries, emergency rooms will not be affected during training exercise
SCOTTSDALE – All three Scottsdale Healthcare hospitals are participating in a regional disaster drill March 10, and want the public to know that patient care, surgeries, emergency rooms will not be affected during the training exercise.
Hundreds of simulated casualties are expected, but normal hospital operations and scheduled procedures at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak will continue during the exercise.
The drill is part of the 3rd Coyote Crisis Campaign, an emergency preparedness drill to improve response and communication between government, public and private organizations, according to Wendy Lyons, RN, BSN, MSL, vice president of Community Stewardship for Scottsdale Healthcare.
Scottsdale Healthcare is a founding partner of the Coyote Crisis Campaign, launched in 2006 as a way to test emergency response, communication and collaboration at unprecedented levels for the benefit of Northeast Valley residents.
The concept was successfully tested during the inaugural Coyote Crisis Campaign in April 2006, which simulated a terrorist attack in Scottsdale. Observers noted it set the national benchmark for local disaster response. The 2007 Coyote Crisis Campaign simulated a bird flu pandemic.
“We want our community to know that hospital visitors and patients may see increased activity, emergency vehicles and possibly medical helicopters around the hospitals during this drill,” said Lyons. “These drills are not expected to interrupt patient care or daily hospital operations, thanks to months of advance planning by our staff and physicians.”
Hospitals traditionally hold disaster drills at least twice a year to maintain readiness for internal or external crisis events, said Lyons. Notification signs will be placed in and around the hospitals so patients and visitors will be aware the drill is underway. Hospital security will assist with traffic management and access to the hospitals during the drills.
The ACS Level I Trauma Center at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn is designed to respond to large scale disasters. The facility can handle multiple military med-evac helicopters on its landing pad, and is home to the nation’s first civilian hospital-based military trauma training program.
More than 100 “volunteer victims,” many made up to simulate blast injuries, are expected at each hospital: Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak.
“Each training exercise we hold helps Scottsdale Healthcare improve its readiness for disaster response,” said president & CEO Tom Sadvary. “That’s why we do this, to identify issues to correct and be better prepared in the future.”
Scottsdale Healthcare experts offer free, timely cancer presentation
March 4, 2009
March is National Colon Cancer Awareness month
SCOTTSDALE – Approx-imately 10 percent of colon cancer is due to an inherited predisposition. Scottsdale Healthcare is enabling individuals to learn about genetics and their risks for developing the disease during a free presentation on March 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Held during National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, the presentation will address features of families with inherited predispositions to develop colon cancer. Current information on new treatments for gastrointestinal cancers, with a focus on colon and pancreatic cancers, also will be provided.
The program will feature Cary Armstrong, a certified genetic counselor, and Ramesh Ramanathan, MD, medical director of TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare.
The colorectal cancer presentation will be held in the Education Room at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, 10460 N. 92nd St., Scottsdale. Register by calling 480-882-4636.