Hospital Teamwork Credited for Weathering Fierce Storm in North Carolina

A healthcare professional’s natural disaster survival guide.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Zirkman, Chief Medical Advisor for CarolinaEast Medical Center, spent the last week preparing for and weathering the wrath of Hurricane Florence, which, at the time, had left at least five dead, necessitated dozens of rescues, and cut power to a million people. Here he offers best practices for healthcare professionals in similarly dire straits.

Fortunately, natural disasters are rare occurrences, but when they do happen, a hospital must be prepared for conditions that will likely stress systems well beyond what they are designed to manage.

The keys to surviving an event such as hurricane are advanced preparation and real- time responsiveness. Hurricanes are seasonal visitors to the eastern U.S. coast, and CarolinaEast Medical Center has experienced enough of them over the years to understand the importance of preparedness. In preparation for Hurricane Florence, we followed four basic steps designed to offer the best chance of handling any contingency or emergency.

Step one: Advanced preparation

Several days prior to the storm, materials and supplies were stockpiled to provide at least seven days of standalone hospital operations. This included food, pharmacy items, water, linens, and maintenance equipment (e.g. sand bags, pumps, spare generator parts, etc.). The hospital’s backup generators were topped off with fuel to ensure 7-10 days of continuous power.

Step Two: Securing the Facility/Physical Plant

Machinery and critical systems were inspected, tuned, and secured against weather-related exposure and damage. This included building makeshift dams around vulnerable areas, particularly the generators and the fuel tanks.

Step Three: Onsite Staffing

One day before the storm, the hospital bunked up to three shifts of staff: nursing, support services, and maintenance. Essential personnel were requested to stay overnight, while non-essential personnel were asked to volunteer to provide support services (e.g. kitchen, house cleaning, patient transport, etc.). Bedding, coffee, snacks, and movies were planned and provided for. Physician staffing in-house was done on a volunteer basis, with arrangements made for sleep and showering facilities. The hospitalists voluntarily provided two rotating shifts to cover admissions and follow-up care 24 hours round the clock.

Step Four: Incident Command

Staffed by key administrative, clinical, and physical plant personnel, this key group responds to any challenge, unexpected event, or emergency condition. The group is kept small, with one person typically overseeing a particular service or facility. The group meets face-to-face three times each day and provides a structured platform for overseeing the entire hospital operations, including the following:

  • Monitoring for changing conditions
  • Reacting to changes in conditions
  • Issuing updates
  • Resolving new issues as they arise

For a system as complex as an acute-care hospital, managing a catastrophic event such as Hurricane Florence can never be left to chance, nor can there be attempts to figure things out on the fly. The key to ensuring the safety of patients and staff requires thorough attention to detail and planning well in advance of the event.

We are very fortunate at CarolinaEast Medical Center to have experienced, skilled leadership members who have developed and promoted a culture of excellence, as well as that desire to always go that extra step to ensure that our patients receive the best care. Hurricane Florence has been one of the most severe tests the hospital has ever faced, but those efforts to prepare for the worst of conditions is paying major dividends as we weather the storm.

PHOTO: Members of the CarolinaEast Medical Center Incident Command team are seen here during a midafternoon status update on Saturday, Sept. 15. Members of the team had been at the hospital for the past three days responding to the impact of Hurricane Florence which had made landfall the previous day. | PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Zirkman, MD

 

Comment on this article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Related Stories

Leave a Reply

Please log in to your account to comment on this article.

Featured Webcasts

2026 IPPS Masterclass 3: Master MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 3: MS-DRG Shifts and NTAPs

This third session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review of FY26 changes to the MS-DRG methodology and new technology add-on payments (NTAPs), presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 14, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 2: Master ICD-10-PCS Changes

This second session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature a review the FY26 changes to ICD-10-PCS codes. This information will be presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 13, 2025
2026 IPPS Masterclass 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

2026 IPPS Masterclass Day 1: Master ICD-10-CM Changes

This first session in our 2026 IPPS Masterclass will feature an in-depth explanation of FY26 changes to ICD-10-CM codes and guidelines, CCs/MCCs, and revisions to the MCE, presented by presented by nationally recognized ICD-10 coding expert Christine Geiger, MA, RHIA, CCS, CRC, with bonus insights and analysis from Dr. James Kennedy.

August 12, 2025

Trending News

Featured Webcasts

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

The Two-Midnight Rule: New Challenges, Proven Strategies

RACmonitor is proud to welcome back Dr. Ronald Hirsch, one of his most requested webcasts. In this highly anticipated session, Dr. Hirsch will break down the complex Two Midnight Rule Medicare regulations, translating them into clear, actionable guidance. He’ll walk you through the basics of the rule, offer expert interpretation, and apply the rule to real-world clinical scenarios—so you leave with greater clarity, confidence, and the tools to ensure compliance.

June 19, 2025
Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Open Door Forum Webcast Series

Bring your questions and join the conversation during this open forum series, live every Wednesday at 10 a.m. EST from June 11–July 30. Hosted by Chuck Buck, these fast-paced 30-minute sessions connect you directly with top healthcare experts tackling today’s most urgent compliance and policy issues.

June 11, 2025
Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Open Door Forum: The Changing Face of Addiction: Coding, Compliance & Care

Substance abuse is everywhere. It’s a complicated diagnosis with wide-ranging implications well beyond acute care. The face of addiction continues to change so it’s important to remember not just the addict but the spectrum of extended victims and the other social determinants and legal ramifications. Join John K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPC, for a critical Q&A on navigating substance abuse in 2025.  Register today and be a part of the conversation!

July 16, 2025

Trending News

Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →

CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24