September is Preparedness Month!

Wisconsin Emergency Management Cyber Workshop

Cyber Security continues to rank as one of the highest risks facing healthcare organizations on Hazard Vulnerability Assessments. All healthcare facilities are considered Critical Infrastructure Partners. Consider sending someone from your organization for the latest updates!

October 15: 9:00 a.m.-Noon at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College. Click here for more information and registration links.

Hospital EMResource Training!

EMResource, formerly known as Wi Trac, is one of our primary tools for situational awareness. Past exercises in the region have identified the ability to FULLY use this tool as a gap. Join me for a webinar training on Wednesday, September 18, 1000-1100 and to learn how to respond to and create events such as a request for a bed count, MCI alert, or general announcement. Great training for any staff NEW to this tool, or for senior staff who need a refresher. Link to the webinar will be emailed prior to the 18th. 

Invite Me!

I am interested in attending your Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Committee meetings! Please send an email invite and I'd be happy to come and give a 15-20 minute overview of the Northwest WI HERC and explain how we can partner together! 

Tools and Templates

Click and check these out!

Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

2019 Preparedness Month Resources: Prepared, Not Scared!

Create and Family Preparedness Plan

Seeing Pink as in "Pink evacuation vests"

Last year, our region and state experienced several emergencies and disasters which prompted the evacuation of Skilled Nursing Facilities. In our region, this included one nursing home in Douglas County near the Husky Oil Refinery and another in Whitehall, WI which was evacuated to our region due to a fire.

As a result of these experiences, the Northwest WI Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition decided to purchase the following:

Pink Evacuation Vests for each long term care resident in the region. The vests have a front pocket which can hold important paperwork such as a face sheet, MAR, and ADL information.

Megamovers to assist non-ambulatory residents into the back of school buses with the help of fire fighters and other personnel. We hope we never have to use this equipment again, but if so, we are ready!

Skilled Nursing Facilities are encouraged to include these resources in their Evacuation Plans and to train their staff in their use. 

If you have NOT received your pink vests yet, please contact Aimee to schedule delivery. Thanks!

Like Us on Facebook!

Help get the word out regarding Emergency Preparedness! As we've seen in the news, Wisconsin has it's own share of disasters! Search for Northwest WI Healthcare Coalition on Facebook! 

Virtual Exercise to be held November 7, 0830-1100

Back by popular demand, the NWWIHERC will facilitate a virtual exercise on Thursday, November 7 for our CMS partners. You will be invited to join a "virtual Emergency Operations Center" and to play in the exercise at your own facility. If you'd like to play in this exercise, please REGISTER here. Registered organizations will receive more information including how to join the virtual EOC via email. 

Next Membership Meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Friday, October 4, 1000-1200 at the Mosaic Telecom Training Center in Cameron, WI. We look forward to seeing you then!