Texas Health Resources - The Business of Healthcare

The Business of Health Care Report
Emergency Preparedness in Turbulent Times - February 2003

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I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with "The Business of Health Care Report" on News Radio 1080 KRLD.

Today's topic is health care's emergency preparedness and hospitals' role during a crisis.

September 11, 2001, changed our lives forever. But while hospitals have a long history of responding to crises and disasters - often from fires, transportation crashes and the weather - the events of 9-11 sparked new concerns. Suddenly, the specter of nuclear, biological or chemical attacks loomed - and feelings of vulnerability resurfaced not felt since Pearl Harbor.

Like most health care providers across the country, Texas Health Resources employees tackled the issue head on, beefing up existing emergency plans and instituting regular meetings with local, state and federal agencies to coordinate and maximize response efforts. In addition, personnel at THR hospitals continued to conduct internal and external disaster simulations and make assessments of their overall response.

For THR, being prepared means:

educating employees and testing the efficiency of their response;

readily available communication systems;

disease surveillance and reporting to appropriate agencies to assist in identifying potential biological or chemical attacks at their earliest stages;

providing appropriate facilities and equipment and selected employees trained to decontaminate patients exposed to nuclear, biological or chemical agents;

reviewing supply and pharmaceutical inventories and strengthening communication with suppliers, who can respond quickly to help meet the needs of patients.

All of these efforts involve a monetary cost. While the government has pledged to help, few dollars actually have reached the local level. THR is hopeful that more resources will be forthcoming so that the momentum will continue.

For Texas Health Resources and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO Doug Hawthorne with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.

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