Question

How did the Joplin Tornado event impact the hospital and health community?

What steps could have been taken to better prepare? To better respond?

Does your institution or workplace have a continuity of operations (COOP) plan? Do you test it regularly?

Answer 1

Answer:

The Joplin tornado was a catastrophic and powerful EF5 vortex tornado that hit the Joplin Missouri in May 2011.

It caused disastrous consequences such as liquid fuel leaks for containers and contamination of groundwater. Fire and destruction of buildings and properties.

The health community in the Masoui was not prepared for the massive tornado that cut the 6-mile path in length and directly damaged the ST. John regional Medical center which is the largest hospital and level 2 trauma center. It killed 161 people and destroyed more than 6500 homes.

The step could have been taken to prevent the disastrous impact of the tornado as follows:

• Tactical and strategic communication can be very critical or important to the employees.
• Evaluation: Hospitals should test their emergency plans to identify and rectify weaknesses.
• Medical Surge: the emergency plan must have detailed methods for employees and patients in contingency, conventional, and crisis seeing.
• Planning: It helps the staff to develop cortical thinking skills for the time of changing situations.

Yes, Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota has a COOP plan and it tests it regularly to find out its weaknesses and strengths and to be prepared for a challenging situation such as a fire or tornado, etc.