Medical facilities are some of the most important entities that engage in disaster recovery planning. While other private organizations need to conduct business continuity planning to ensure their recovery time objectives are met, hospitals and healthcare providers must be able to seamlessly continue daily operations for humanitarian reasons – to care for those who were injured during emergency conditions.
In an attempt to address this issue, healthcare officials in Vermont recently announced an innovative emergency medical planning solution, unveiling a mobile 20-bed hospital structure that can be effectively deployed when disaster conditions render a primary site unusable.
Reports state that the portable facility will be fully equipped with water, electricity, heating, air conditioning and ventilation, and once it's operational, officials say it will be able to be put into use as an alternative space that functions in a similar manner as a preparedness clinic.
According to a January 31 article from The Associated Press, the care trailer was acquired through health emergency funds granted to the state of Vermont by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Considering the resources available, healthcare professionals all over the country should look into applying for federal grant money in order to secure a structure that can help their facilities prevent unnecessary casualties through the use of this type of alternative site.
For those medical facilities that lack confidence in their ability to successfully deploy mobile emergency services, turning to a certified disaster consultant is an excellent way to refine disaster protocols. A disaster consultant can also help medical practitioners plan for hot sites to be similarly used when the primary facility is under duress.
Moreover, by sending a facility representative to the World Conference on Disaster Management in Toronto, Canada, from June 25 to 27, interested healthcare providers can gain in-depth knowledge of the conditions that may stand in the way of normal business operations. This information will help a practice to best prepare for disasters so they can ensure the quality of patient care is not compromised.