Battle-tested hospitals offer 12 pointers to beef up EOPs

Safety managers in New England and Kentucky were among the most recent to learn how well their hospitals’ emergency operations plans (EOP) operated over the long haul. Ice storms in those regions in December 2008 and January 2009 knocked out power to a grand total of nearly 2 million homes and businesses, many for 72 hours or more, and put EOPs to the test.

Martin Wheatley, director of engineering and safety committee manager at Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville, KY, and Troy Walker, director of the hospital’s ambulance service, coordinated response efforts while the hospital went 76 hours on backup power.
Meanwhile, Scott Janssens, RRT, MBA, CMRP, director of materials management and safety at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA, saw his facility stay on generators for 48 hours.