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Medical center gets patients ready for potential disaster
By ALLEN JONES
With a hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico inching closer to the Texas coast line, Tomball and Magnolia residents are not the only people preparing for what could be a major storm. Tomball Regional Medical Center must also be ready to provide emergency services and protect its patients during potential disasters.
The medical center operates under the guidelines of state’s Catastrophic Medical Operations Center, said Todd Rumfield, safety officer and director of plant operations for TRMC.
The state’s medical operations center helps hospitals and other emergency medical providers organize during catastrophic events by arranging the transport of high-risk patients at hospitals devastated by a events such as a hurricane to outlying hospitals.
“The CMOC determines the criteria for patients to be transferred by air and/or ground ambulance to keeps track of the availability at surrounding hospitals,” said Rumfield.
According to TRMC, it is also important for patients to be prepared during any emergency situation.
Patients should have at least two weeks supply of medication and extra oxygen tanks, said Glenda DeWeese, director of TRH Home Health. She also suggests residents assemble general and medical supplies in a bag with identification and to label equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, and walkers.
Medical center officials also recommend that dialysis patients check with their current dialysis centers to make arrangements through another company if the patients must be evacuated or if their centers are closed due to the storm. Insulin patients requiring daily injections should take all of their equipment with them as well as a means to keep the medications cool.
Patients who have medical equipment that requires electricity should register with the State Special Needs 2-1-1 or Houston/Harris County 3-1-1. According to TRMC, the registry will help the region’s emergency operations coordinators in identifying those individuals that require evacuation assistance, shelter placement and other needs.
“(Tomball Regional Hospital) has a set disaster plan and works with the city of Tomball’s local emergency planning committee to prepare for disasters,” said Rumfield. “We recommend the community to contact either the Tomball Fire Department at 281-351-7101 or the Tomball Police Department at 281-351-5451 for local shelters.”
The medical center operates under the guidelines of state’s Catastrophic Medical Operations Center, said Todd Rumfield, safety officer and director of plant operations for TRMC.
The state’s medical operations center helps hospitals and other emergency medical providers organize during catastrophic events by arranging the transport of high-risk patients at hospitals devastated by a events such as a hurricane to outlying hospitals.
“The CMOC determines the criteria for patients to be transferred by air and/or ground ambulance to keeps track of the availability at surrounding hospitals,” said Rumfield.
According to TRMC, it is also important for patients to be prepared during any emergency situation.
Patients should have at least two weeks supply of medication and extra oxygen tanks, said Glenda DeWeese, director of TRH Home Health. She also suggests residents assemble general and medical supplies in a bag with identification and to label equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, and walkers.
Medical center officials also recommend that dialysis patients check with their current dialysis centers to make arrangements through another company if the patients must be evacuated or if their centers are closed due to the storm. Insulin patients requiring daily injections should take all of their equipment with them as well as a means to keep the medications cool.
Patients who have medical equipment that requires electricity should register with the State Special Needs 2-1-1 or Houston/Harris County 3-1-1. According to TRMC, the registry will help the region’s emergency operations coordinators in identifying those individuals that require evacuation assistance, shelter placement and other needs.
“(Tomball Regional Hospital) has a set disaster plan and works with the city of Tomball’s local emergency planning committee to prepare for disasters,” said Rumfield. “We recommend the community to contact either the Tomball Fire Department at 281-351-7101 or the Tomball Police Department at 281-351-5451 for local shelters.”
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