Improving LUHS Emergency Improving LUHS Emergency Communication & Notification Communication & Notification

Team Membership

Jen Carlson, Manager- Environmental Health & Safety Katherine Martens, MD- Emergency Medicine

Carol Schleffendorf, AD- Nursing Administration Christine Stake, Research Coordinator- Emergency Medicine

Dyan Doughty, Specialist- Environmental Health & Safety Anne Dillon, Director- Media Services

Robert Hirsch, Assistant Manager- Security

Adopt a consistent and standardized emergency code Adopt a consistent and standardized emergency code nomenclature and implement effective emergency nomenclature and implement effective emergency communication/notification methods throughout the communication/notification methods throughout the healthcare system.healthcare system.

1. Standardize emergency code nomenclature: EXTERNAL: Consistent communication with EMS, Police, Fire, and other

healthcare organizations INTERNAL: Improved notification/response to incidents, such as floods and utility

outages

2. Improve notification systems: Main campus building to building communication Communication to 22 Offsite locations

3. System-wide education

Project Aim StatementProject Aim Statement

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

The ProblemThe Problem

Old Emergency Code Structure

Did not cover all types of emergencies

Inconsistent with codes used by community partners

Federal funding requirements required standardization

Old Notification/Communication Process

Existing communication directed to leadership; no established mass communication methods

No notification capability between the following:

Main campus building to building

22 Offsite locations Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Standardized nomenclature

Established specific response teams for each emergency code

Created new user-friendly Code Blue Number: OLD: Dr. Cart – call x63060 NEW: Code Blue – call x69999

Standardized Emergency CodesStandardized Emergency Codes

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Improved Notification & Improved Notification & CommunicationCommunication

Consistent External Communication

Improved Internal Communication

Simplex System (Main campus)

Computer Screens (System-wide) Implementation of “Pop Up” software on all LUHS computers

Mass Emergency Broadcasting (System-wide) Text Messaging- Provides emergency information to employees

Loyola Link screens- During extended outages

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

System-wide EducationSystem-wide Education Communication methods used:

Inside the System (August 08) Weekly Message (August 08) Employee Information Exchange (September 08) Leadership Roundtable (September 08) “Code of the Week” featured on loyola.wired (Aug-Dec 08)

Additional educational resources: Employees badges Revised emergency response guides with new response procedures Code Posters (for departmental use) Code Blue Stickers (for phones)

Mandatory e-Learning Module

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Emergency Code Nomenclature: Emergency Code Nomenclature: Successfully implemented October 08Successfully implemented October 08

Code BLUEMedical emergency

29

Code REDFire

5

Code GRAYSecurity response

1

Code TRIAGE – INTERNALDisaster plan

1

Code ORANGEHazardous material spill

1

Number of codes called in October 08

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Emergency Broadcast Notification Emergency Broadcast Notification System: Now used by 517 employeesSystem: Now used by 517 employees

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Sep 08 Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

System-wide Education: CompletedSystem-wide Education: Completedby more than 4000 employeesby more than 4000 employees

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Oct 08 Nov 08 Dec 08 Jan 09 Feb 09 Mar 09

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Added BenefitAdded BenefitCompliance with national standards (HICS/NIMS) results in the

continual acceptance of grant money to be used for emergency preparation

“All hospitals will develop and maintain a redundant communication system that is capable of communicating both horizontally between health care providers and vertically with the jurisdiction incident command structure”

State of Illinois, Department of Central Management Services, ASPR POD Hospital GrantCFDA #93.889/ 2.1.22

Through adoption of the standardized emergency code nomenclature and improved notification systems, LUHS can continue to receive ASPR grant money for FY 2009 and FY2010.

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material

Next StepsNext Steps

Encourage additional staff to register devices in voluntary Emergency Broadcast System

Continue to educate LUHS employees on revised emergency code nomenclature

Continue to pursue federal grant money for emergency preparation activities

Confidential: Quality Improvement Material