What’s in a Name?

Just a few weeks ago, we had the worst storm of the year in South Florida.  It is ironic and I suppose a commentary on human nature that there was no worry, no panic, no mad rush to Home Depot or Publix and no one was calling out sick.  No nada nothing (as we say here in Miami).  I didn’t even write a blog leading up to it.  Why?  The only reason I can think of it that we didn’t give it a name.  If we had called it Tropical Storm Oprah, there would have been wall to wall news coverage with all of the above.

A few things did happen that we had to contend with, mostly minor.  It did rain a bunch, 10 inches in 48 hours, 30 mph winds, seven foot waves at the beach, rip tides and flash floods.  We sprang a couple of leaks at Homestead Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital.  There was some concern about flooded streets making it difficult for staff to arrive or depart.  The Transport Center staff starting making arrangements to move people back and forth, just in case, but it wasn’t necessary in the end.

Still, it was pretty much business as usual all over South Florida and the Keys, with all kinds of events going on as scheduled, the Columbus Day Regatta happened, the Miami Broward Carnival went on (just a little wet), and all of the stores and restaurants were open.  The lack of concern was kind of refreshing, and all was dealt with in the normal course of things that go on when you live in the sub-tropics.

What brings this to mind is that far out in the Gulf is something now called Hurricane Rina.  We are looking at it as it is something of an anomaly this late in the season.  Now that it has a name though, it has come to everyone’s attention, and we are already seeing the signs.  A little worry here and there, questions about work and what will we do. The NewsPlex is cranking up with regular reports.  But….this pretty unlikely, probable non-event is still five days away from even being a consideration.

And here I am, just like all the rest, writing about it because it has a ……..!

“Just call my name and I’ll be there in a hurry
On that you can depend and never worry”

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Diana Ross

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Hurricane Irene Update 2 Plus

The situation for us here in Miami and the Keys, and all of South Florida, has continued to improve.  We now expect Hurricane Irene to brush by us off-shore, with the most likely effects being similar to the typical strong thunderstorms we normally experience this time of year. 

Baptist Health will maintain normal operations as we expect no disruption related to Hurricane Irene.  It is likely that we will see some heavy rain from feeder bands on Thursday and Friday, so take that into consideration as you travel to and from work.

We will continue to monitor the situation. Thanks to everyone for their expressions of dedication and availability to care for our patients no matter what the weather.  It is deeply appreciated

In the meantime, we had a Baptist Health team go down to Haiti late last week to perform surgical (58 cases!) and medical work for the many still in dire post earthquake circumstances.  On this trip were Michele Ryder, Tony Gonzalez, Magdalie Gedeon, Aylin Vidal, Lois Wise-Kist Iccledan Acclien, Priscilla Bailey, Michael Canning, Valerie Davis, Antoine Dessources, Roselaure Gousse, Socrates Haydar, Ivannia Hernandez, Bret Kendon, Kris Kist, Pierre Limosin, Tameeka Loussaint, Salvador Marin, Martha Pearson, Francisco Perez, Yeni Rauda, Luc Richards, Mabel Rodriguez, Farah Saint-Louis, Samuel Saturn, Ytimea Sony, Nancy Thelusma, Jorge Valdes, Ken Willis and Calvin Babcock.  As the storm began to approach Haiti we were concerned about them finishing their work in time to get out of there.  Fortunately that worked out.  We did, however, have to evacuate one of our surgeons who fell ill while doing surgery there.  I want to recognize Elmer Loaiza, supervisor of transport for the Baptist Health Transfer Center, for expeditiously getting our sick doc out of there in a hurry (ably assisted by David Aragon)  Your expertise in patient transport logistics is unequaled.  By the way, the hidden jewel TTC moves 2,000 patients a month to make sure that our patients are in the right bed, at the right facility, with the right staff, and the right equipment.

Due to storm, we also had to postpone a trip to The Bahamas that is an annual effort to assist several orphanages there.  Each year the staff of South Miami Hospital donates clothing, school supplies and other needed items.  On this trip are Nancy Pobiones, Rooney Brodie, Christine Stiltner-Angulo, and Karen Vassell from West Kendall Baptist Hospital.  Rest assured, as soon as we get clearance from the Bahamians, they will be there.

One more thing, Baptist Health was named one of the Best Places to Work by Modern Healthcare Magazine(again) this week.  These people named above, and the things they do, are a big part of why we are just that.

Irene goodnight, Irene goodnight
Goodnight Irene, Goodnight Irene
I’ll see you in my dreams

Goodnight Irene — Leadbelly

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Hurricane Irene #1

The following is our first update to the 14,000 members of the Baptist Health family:

We are monitoring the progress of Hurricane Irene closely.  Although the forecast track has slightly improved for us, Irene is expected to grow into a Category 3 storm.  This is a powerful storm capable of significant disruption.  Even as the news improves, remember with every storm there is a margin of error, so we need to pay close attention.

Baptist Health CEOs and leaders have been in communication regarding early preparations.  At this stage, we will function in a business-as-usual manner.  If you have any immediate questions or concerns, speak to your supervisor or manager using your normal chain of command.

We will continue to keep you informed as the situation becomes more certain.

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Hospitality

It is critical that a hospital remain a hospital during a crisis. A real hospital, not a warehouse, or a school gymnasium, or any other vacant space that converts to a general shelter. For better or worse, people see the hospital as a general community resource.  We tacitly encourage this thinking, after all, think of the many things we provide to the community.  We have educational programs on campus, we host AA meetings, we hold health fairs, we are often a gathering place for community events.  It is a deep seated feeling.  Perhaps it goes back to the time in history when hospitals did function as refuges of last resort, not really a place to be healed or to have a life saving intervention, but a place to be made as comfortable as possible during your last days and hours.

It is very difficult to then to roll up the welcome mat, and tell people that a hospital is not a shelter.  The community must understand, it is the only place you can go for emergency and acute medical care.  That mission must be preserved.  Yes, there are exceptions and I have made them myself.  In the eye of one particularly bad storm, we heard banging on the Emergency Room doors, and when we opened them we saw a dozen Guatemalan migrant workers looking very bedraggled.  It had to be bad out there, as these folks were a tough, stoic bunch.  Of course, we let them in.

Still….when you are battening down the hatches the last thing you need is a bunch of able bodied citizens, milling around the hospital, consuming all of the food in the cafeteria (you will need that later), sitting around the lobby, and generally getting the way of the provision of acute patient care.  As much as it may go against the grain of being a community, non-profit, faith-based, caring healthcare organization, you have to do this one important thing……show them the door and make sure they leave.

Even better, as a savvy reader of this blog, don’t let them inside in the first place.  Develop security measures as part of your hurricane plan that begin a lock down well in advance.  We are piloting a system called FastPass in several of our hospitals, that creates a security checkpoint and quick identification process that allows us to identify each visitor.  We will use it to raise the security level in advance of the storm to limit access of the general public. Even more importantly, and even before you get to the FastPass checkpoint, you can control and limit vehicular access to your campus.  If you do not, you may find yourself housing a sizable collection of big boys’ toys.

Most of us have very large and very expensive parking structures that house thousands of cars.   Little did we know that these garages shine like a beacon to owners of valuable things on wheels!  We once had a gridlock traffic jam of boats on trailers, jet skis on trailers, and collector’s cars that would put the Barrett-Jackson auction to shame.   Almost anything that would fit through the entrance was in there.  I am talking about a 1963 Red Corvette split window coupe, a 1966 Shelby Cobra, two Ferraris, a glow in the dark green Lamborghini (bienvenido a Miami), and a couple of mid seventies Cadillac convertibles that looked brand new.  Even half a dozen flats boats, the specialty boat of choice for sneaking up on bonefish.

But the real big numbers come from people who simply want to have their regular car high and dry and out of the way of falling limbs and flying debris.  What does this have to do with patient care?  Nothing!  Unless these cars were driven by hospital staff coming to work….all together now…show them the door!!!  Controlling your environment, your campus, your resources and importantly the patient care workspace is key to protecting the core mission of every hospital, providing acute and emergent patient care.  Those people you turn away will appreciate it later, when their hospital is there for them.

“What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water on the streets of Evangeline”

Randy Newman – Louisiana 1927

Originally posted on June 2009

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