Emergency Preparedness

Kern Medical Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

numbers of emergency response agencies, key vendors, stakeholders, and resources. a. Appendix J.2 – Basic Facility Support lists routine and emergency contact numbers for basic support services for facility operations (e.g., utilities, repair services, etc.) b. Appendix J.4 – Incident Contacts lists contact information for use in response to incidents (e.g., government response entities, nearby hospitals and hospitals, media, etc.) c. Appendix Q - Volunteer and Donations Procedures lists contact information and procedures for activating Kern County Medical Reserve Corps (KMRC) volunteers and/or Kern Medical volunteers. Refer to Appendix K.1 – Communications Equipment Inventory for a list of communications resources available to Kern Medical . The primary means of emergency communication is the local telephone system. If telephones fail, hospital staff will notify the telephone provider by any means available including: telephones in another area of the hospital, cell phones, messenger, e-mail, or satellite phones, or 800 MHz radios via dispatch. Kern Medical has installed standard telephone jacks and systems that bypass the electronic phone system for fax machines and data equipment (i.e. computers/wireless.) Refer to Appendix K.1 for the location where these devices are located or stored. In addition to its telephone system, the hospital maintains the following radio communications equipment: • A VHF/UHF/800 MHz radio system for communications with the County medical/health response. Refer to Appendix K.2 – County Communications Procedures for procedures for operating the Emergency medical dispatch radio system . The radio is located in the Emergency Department and room 2126 and is to be used only by trained staff. • Armature Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is located in Kern County and an agreement with the local Amateur Radio group is in place to respond to the hospital when requested by Kern County Public Health or Kern Medical’s Emergency Manager. Other alternate communications tools include: a. FAX, Cell Phone, Internet/Email, Text and Voice Messaging. See Appendix K.1 – Communications Equipment Inventory for Communication Resource List. b. Handheld Radios (Walkie-Talkies) – The hospital uses handheld radios for internal communications in both routine and emergency situations. c. If telephone and radio communications are unavailable, runners will be employed to take messages to and from the hospital and appropriate agencies rendering assistance. d. The designated hospital EOC has a radio, television with cable connection to monitor television and radio broadcasts to remain up-to-date on official government announcements and other information during an incident. e. Refer to Appendix P.4 – Incident Command System. a. Kern Medical will appoint a communications coordinator to maintain and test communications equipment.

2.6.3 Primary Communications Methods

2.6.4 Alternate Communications Methods

2.6.5 Communications Equipment Testing and Maintenance

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