HURRICANE CONFERENCE FOR HOSPITAL PERSONNEL TO BE HELD IN THE VALLEY JUNE 9, 2010

Harlingen, Texas  -- A timely and free hurricane preparation conference will be held in the Valley on Wednesday, June 9 for hospital emergency managers, trauma coordinators, Emergency Dept. directors, and safety officers.   

With hurricane season now officially underway, Valley Baptist Health System and PHNS Inc. (a nation-wide company that provides information technology and business process services to hospitals) are co-sponsoring a “2010 Hurricane Preparations” conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 9 at Valley Baptist in Harlingen.   The one-day conference is designed to augment a hospital’s emergency management plan by providing vital information and contacts from outside the hospital environment. 

The event will include presenters from various local and national agencies, who will share information that will help hospital emergency management planners to identify external resources during hurricanes, floods and other storms.

In coping with hurricanes, hospitals traditionally focus on a “shelter-in-place” strategy, often depending upon internal emergency management plans, but with only a limited focus on coordinated resources which are available outside the hospital.  In times of emergency, hospitals become a safe haven for the communities they support.  While attending to the needs of their patients, hospitals are also required to support the needs of their staff, visitors and often the communities in which they serve.

Presenters for the conference will include the following:

• Barry S. Goldsmith of NOAA (the National Weather Service)

• Jorge Jalomo, Director of Emergency Management for the Texas Department of Public Safety

• Tom Hushen, Director of the Trauma Regional Advisory Council for Region “V” of the state, which includes the Valley

• Johnny Cavazos, Emergency Management Coordinator / Chief Emergency Officer and Homeland Security Director for Cameron County

• Capt. Michael Kester of the Harlingen Police Dept.

• Chief Michael Rinaldi of the Harlingen Fire Department

• Sasha Cruz, Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross, South Texas Chapter

The presenters will lead conference attendees through the detection, onset and response to a hurricane event.  They will also exhibit resources available for coordination and assistance to hospitals and community organizations regarding hurricane warnings, evacuations, community response, hospital trauma assistance, community disaster relief and individual personal preparedness. 

 James Eastham, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Health System, will welcome participants to the conference, followed by opening remarks from Ingrid Steinbach, RN, CEN, Director of Emergency and Trauma Services for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. 

For more information on the hurricane conference, please visit http://www.valleybaptist.net/phns/conference.htm.

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