Page 24 - SFHN JUNE 2020 FLIP BOOK

Disaster ... Hurricane Preparedness ... Emergency Medicine ... Disaster... Hurricane Prep

Preparing for the Unknown

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, hurri- Now is the time to have all this informa- lies can remain safe and Open lines of communica-
cane preparedness and response was the tion at our fingertips. able to work. With no date tion are essential to a battle-
ultimate test of emergency management In addition to auditing your needs, take in sight for schools to plan. COVID-19 has shown
for South Florida health care organiza- the time now to identify the best resources reopen due to COVID-19, us that communication
tions. Then came the COVID-19 pandem- for governmental and regulatory updates we now find ourselves col- between families and patients
ic and an unfamiliar threat that none of us and the contacts at these agencies who can laborating with daycare cannot wait until the storm
had experienced before. address your specific concerns, rather than centers so our staff can has passed. Smart phones and
With ingenuity and extraordinary com- waiting for official government notifica- come to work. tablets have created the expec-
mitment, many health care organizations tions. Taking into considera- tation of uninterrupted con-
have confronted the pandemic’s challenges Take stock. Even the most diligent plan- tion all these necessities, BY KEITH A. MYERS tact during tough times. At
and controlled its devastating impacts. In ning and investment cannot foresee all we estimate the cost of the onset of the pandemic, we
the future, however, the harsh reality is future needs. As part of our substantial, safeguarding our residents, clients and purchased additional tablets and assigned
that we must look beyond past experi- ongoing commitment to the safety of our caregivers during the COVID-19 pandem- staff to help residents connect with family
ences to worst case scenarios we can only residents and caregivers, MorseLife spent ic has added a staggering $450,000 a and use the Internet for reading, entertain-
imagine and prepare for the unknown. over $160 million for new hurricane-resis- month to our budget. Despite the exorbi- ment and even shopping. Moving forward,
The following guideposts are a good place tant construction and generators that can tant cost, all these items are absolute our battleplan will include enhanced avail-
to begin. remain fully operational for up to 19 days. necessities. ability of devices and popular channels of
Don’t wait for the news bulletin. The We did not know however, that soon we Devise a battleplan. It is up to us to communication.
heat of a crisis is no time to determine also would need to stock warehouses full deploy our caregivers and staff where COVID-19 was a game-changer for
your needs. Each day MorseLife Health of PPE and, like everyone else, would find needed, protect them and give them the those of us who are entrusted with the care
System takes care of 800 residents on our ourselves scouring an unregulated market- tools they need to succeed. This may of others. Moving forward, we must
campus, with in our independent and place for pandemic supplies. Going for- include engaging additional caregivers, remain equally vigilant about planning for
assisted living facilities, short-term and ward, our plans will include securing a security and maintenance staff. disruptions we know and those we can
long-term care, as well as thousands of robust inventory from reliable supply A battleplan against the unknown only imagine.
seniors in our at-home care programs that chains. requires creative thinking and flexibility,
include meals-on-wheels and PACE. What Take note that unforeseen challenges such as when we move our most vulnera- Keith A. Myers is president and CEO
transportation will we require during a cri- demand additional budgets to meet crucial ble at-home care and hospice patients to MorseLife Health System and is the
sis? What special needs must be accom- needs and responsibilities increase as our MorseLife campus during a hurricane. Not-For-Profit Vice President on the Board
modated? What is our inventory of neces- everyday life changes. When hurricanes Similarly, in response to COVID-19 safety of Directors of the Florida Health Care
sary supplies? What challenges will care- loom, MorseLife sets up shelters and day precautions, we replaced volunteers with Association, Florida’s largest advocacy
givers and staff face and how can we help? care centers so employees and their fami- staff for vital Meals-on-Wheels deliveries. organization for senior care providers.

Specializing in Medically

Complex Patients

Kindred Hospitals are owned by Kindred
Healthcare, Inc., a national network of Long Term
Acute Care Hospitals (LTACH's).

Kindred Hospitals provide specialized, high quality
care for acutely ill patients. For more than a decade,
we have fine-tuned the art of medically complex care.

Our services range from complex catastrophic
illnesses that require intensive care, post-surgical medical
rehabilitation to patients suffering from chronic diseases requiring respiratory and
rehabilitative therapies. Kindred Hospitals provide outcome-oriented
cost effective care for patients with a wide spectrum of
medical conditions.

Admissions to Kindred Hospitals may be
At olF d i r a P o w er & Le g i h t C o m pa ny ww awe aw re recommended by physicians, acute-care hospitals,
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rehabilitation hospitals, managed care providers, case
w i k r o ng t o g t e he wre h t i t he c o m m mu n ieti e s we s rs r e ve
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management companies or by the patient’s family.
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t o m a k e F o l ri d a an e v e n b r p a l ce s i a e a In all cases family tours are encouraged.
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f am l i y an d d o b u nisu e . s s
Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital Kindred Hospital
Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Coral Gables The Palm Beaches

1516 East Las Olas Blvd. 1859 Van Buren St. 5190 Southwest Eighth St. 5555 West Blue Heron Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33301 Hollywood, FL 33020 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Riviera Beach, FL 33418
954-764-8900, ext. 5136 954-920-9000 305-448-1585 561-904-8451
#FPLCares www.khfortlauderdale.com www.khsfhollywood.com www.khcoralgables.com www.khthepalmbeaches.com
24 June 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News