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NSMC News Releases

North Shore Medical Center to test emergency preparedness during drills
4/11/2017
By Casey Chuy

Salem, Mass. (April 7, 2017)- Staff at North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) will participate in emergency preparedness drills on Wednesday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at NSMC Salem Hospital and Thursday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at NSMC Union Hospital, to enhance coordination between NSMC and local public safety services in the event of a public disaster.

 

“All hospital inpatient, outpatient and emergency services will operate normally,” said William Klag, III, NSMC Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. “The disaster drill is performed so that NSMC staff and local police and fire departments can rehearse working together in the event of injuries associated with a chemical, biological or radioactive exposure.”

 

The hypothetical scenario for NSMC Salem Hospital will involve residents being exposed to chlorine at a local pool. For NSMC Union Hospital, the scenario will entail employees at an industrial plant coming in contact with a hazardous chemical.

 

The drills will include the Salem and Lynn fire departments portable medical decontamination units (MDUs) that will be located adjacent to the emergency department entrances. Staff will decontaminate and treat the “victims” for trauma and injuries. The mock victims will be drawn from outside volunteers. The drills will have no impact on patient care and our inpatient, outpatient and emergency departments will remain open and fully operational.

NSMC (North Shore Medical Center) is a multi-site health system headquartered in Salem, Mass., which includes NSMC Salem Hospital, NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn, MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center, NSMC Heart Center, NSMC Women’s Center and the physician network known as North Shore Physicians Group. NSMC and Massachusetts General Hospital together provide care at the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care and the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. NSMC is a member of Partners HealthCare, which was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. #northshoremed