Sacred Heart Will Evacuate Patients in Major Hurricane

[Kurt]

[FONT=&quot] In the event of a mandatory evacuation for a category 3 or stronger hurricane, Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast will partner with Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala., to transport patients to safety. [/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Due to the hospital’s close proximity to both ChoctawhatcheeBay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is in the best interest of our patients, the community and the hospital to evacuate all patients in advance of a powerful hurricane,” Roger Hall, president of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, said. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The hospital’s hurricane evacuation plan was developed in collaboration with the Walton County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the South Walton Fire District to protect patients and provide high quality emergency care before and after the storm. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If the following conditions occur, the hospital will evacuate its patients to another facility:[/FONT]

• [FONT=&quot]The Walton County EOC issues a mandatory evacuation for South Walton County.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]The hurricane is a category 3 or stronger. A category 3 hurricane has winds from 111 to 130 mph with a projected storm surge of 9-12 feet. [/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]The hospital is in the projected cone of landfall for a category 3 or stronger hurricane 48 hours prior to the storm’s arrival. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]“Our primary focus during the evacuation is to transport our patients inland in order to receive uninterrupted, high quality health care, while providing emergency services both before and directly following the storm,” Hall said. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Sacred Heart encourages those who need medical supplies, such as oxygen, to seek supplies well in advance. The hospital will not refill or provide services for oxygen outside the facility during a storm. Members of the public should also be aware that Sacred Heart is not a shelter. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]For a list of shelter locations and additional information about hurricane preparation, go to the Family Preparedness Guide on the Walton County website (www.co.walton.fl.us/).[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Emergency Department will remain open after hospitalized patients are evacuated, as long as it is logistically possible to do so. The Emergency Department staff will work directly with Walton County EMS and the South Walton Fire District during the storm and will re-open to the general public as soon as possible. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]For more information about Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, please call (850) 278-3600 or visit www.sacredheartemerald.org.[/FONT]

 

[scooterbug44]

Does this mean they didn't have an evacuation plan prior to this one?

 

[Em]

I'm wondering how they will transport patients. If they don't make the call until 48 hours prior to the storm, and they take the road, they will be stuck in traffic for hours.

 

[scooterbug44]

That was my thought too - pictured a line of ambulances stuck in traffic on the 331 bridge.

 

[30A Skunkape]

The hospital always had a plan, I think this is just a press release to remind everyone that this is an issue to consider. As a rule, all patients except the truly ill are discharged prior to any sort of evacuation and this leaves only a few behind to manage. There will not be a convoy of ambulances with the remaining numbers, and remember that Sacred Heart has a few whirleybirds at their disposal!

 

[NotDeadYet]

The hospital always had a plan, I think this is just a press release to remind everyone that this is an issue to consider. As a rule, all patients except the truly ill are discharged prior to any sort of evacuation and this leaves only a few behind to manage. There will not be a convoy of ambulances with the remaining numbers, and remember that Sacred Heart has a few whirleybirds at their disposal!

Will they send the transport bills to the patients??
I was quite surprised last year to discover that ambulance service in Florida is out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Because of the high out of network deductible, I was stuck paying the full cost of a transfer to Pensacola, over $1000. If I had known, I would have checked out, found my own way up there, and checked back in again in Pensacola. Sure am glad they didn't think the "whirleybird" was necessary - I would be in bankruptcy.

 

[rdelong43065]

Will they send the transport bills to the patients??
I was quite surprised last year to discover that ambulance service in Florida is out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Because of the high out of network deductible, I was stuck paying the full cost of a transfer to Pensacola, over $1000. If I had known, I would have checked out, found my own way up there, and checked back in again in Pensacola. Sure am glad they didn't think the "whirleybird" was necessary - I would be in bankruptcy.

Yep. A 25 minute helicopter ride cost me $16,000. Insurance only covered $4,000.

 

[Zebraspots]

I thought if you were seriously injured you had to go to Pensacola. Seems crazy that standard medical care is not covered.

The reason I have insurance is to not have $10,000 bills for emergency care.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Will they send the transport bills to the patients??
I was quite surprised last year to discover that ambulance service in Florida is out of network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Because of the high out of network deductible, I was stuck paying the full cost of a transfer to Pensacola, over $1000. If I had known, I would have checked out, found my own way up there, and checked back in again in Pensacola. Sure am glad they didn't think the "whirleybird" was necessary - I would be in bankruptcy.

Not sure who will get the bill, but in my experience the most frail are the ones left behind, and generally they are on Medicare or Medicaid, and I think this sort of thing is covered...by us the taxpayers!

No hospital in their right mind will let you drive yourself from point A to point B if you still needed care. Can you imagine what a wet dream that would be for a plaintiff's attorney if you got in a huge fiery wreck with numerous injuries?

 

[30A Skunkape]

Yep. A 25 minute helicopter ride cost me $16,000. Insurance only covered $4,000.

A nominal sum if you were sick enough to warrant air transport.