No Power?
No Problem for Lakeway Regional Hospital

On 12/22/08 at 8:30am the Tennessee Health Alert Network (THAN) issued a statement that 16 counties would be participating in a simulated power grid failure.  The hospitals that would participate could simulate the power outage for as long as they felt necessary.  Lakeway decided to exercise this option for 98 hours.

Pictured from left to right are Daniel Ross, MD    Tammy Redmond Risk Manager, Wendy Houseright ED Director, Brooke Cornett Marketing Director

Upon receipt of the news from THAN a Code for an External/Internal Disaster was called.  The Incident Command immediately met and began to follow mitigation procedures for an extended power outage.  Department managers recalled personnel, utilized only essential equipment for daily routines.  Inventories were updated  for water and food.  Refrigerated trucks were dispatched to contain and preserve food.  One of the generators from CHS headquarters was dispatched to be on standby for any extra power needs.  Emergency Generators were on standby and under simulation of operation.  Extra fuel was ordered.  Flashlights and batteries were plenteous.  Hourly updates and briefings were held to remedy any difficulties that came along. 

The hospital coordinated its exercise with the Local Emergency Preparedness Center (LEPC).  Constant updates were flowing to the Fire Department, Volunteer Fire departments (extra water tanks), EMS,  the Police and the Regional Medical Communication Center (RMCC) in Knoxville as challenges arose.

 The decision was made at incident command to fill the extra 250 gallon water tanks for sanitary clean-ups and employee hygiene in case Morristown Utilities (MUS) was to lose water supplies after 16 hours without power on MUS pump stations. 

The Incident Command continued to meet each day to update and discuss strategies for each challenge.  The situation mitigation charts were updated for each.  Challenging but thorough was the completion of all required  (Federal Emergency Management Association) FEMA and (Hospital Incident Command System) HICS forms.  Much experience and knowledge was gained from this exercise as well as the rigorous efforts to not miss any scheduled procedures for our patients.  Quality care which Lakeway thrives on delivering each day was never compromised.
This is another reason that Lakeway stands alone at the top in readiness and quality care.