Employees stand by to treat a mock patient during Kohala Hospital disaster drills. (Photo courtesy Kohala Hospital)

Special to Hawaii 24/7 by Emily Mendez-Bryant | HHSC West Hawaii Region Community Relations

Kohala Hospital conducted a disaster drill this summer to test its readiness to respond to a disaster.

The scenario: The morning after a hurricane Kohala Hospital was found with part of its roof missing while injured patients arrived for treatment.

Using Everbridge, a new communication system provided through the Healthcare Association of Hawaii Emergency Operations Center, a message was sent simultaneously to all hospital employees.

Fourteen volunteers under the direction of Ida Otake, Kohala Hospital Auxiliary president, arrived role-playing injured patients with broken bones and bleeding wounds.

While Dr. Elder, the Family Practice physician from the Kohala Family Health Center inspected them in triage, Dr. Watkins, Kohala Hospital Emergency Medicine physician treated the more seriously injured patients in the emergency room.

Dr. Gramlich, Medical Director of Long-Term Care, with visiting University of Hawaii medical student Jon Ishii, cared for those with minor cuts and bruises in the dayroom.

Led by Incident Commander Elvie Bagay, the entire hospital and clinic staff moved gurneys, treated patients, filled out forms, answered phones and addressed patient and family needs.

Kohala Hospital is required to follow the National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocol. This protocol provides structure by identifying team leaders that are wearing special vests and are responsible for specific activities, such as supply chain management, traffic control, patient flow, personnel resources and incident command center functions.

This structured approach minimizes confusion by providing structured communication that ensures prioritization of needs and a quick response to those needs.

Kohala Hospital leaders said it was a successful, educational two-hour drill that proved the facility is ready and able to respond to any emergency.

“Emergency preparedness drills such as this one are especially important,” said Pat Kalua, Hospital Administrator of Kohala Hospital. “A disaster is unpredictable and the more we are trained to deal with these critical situations, the better we are in providing the care necessary for our community. I am impressed by how fast and efficient our team responded.”

Kohala Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with acute and long-term care services and a 24-hour emergency room that supports the North Kohala community.

It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. Its mission is to provide a “healing” environment to the community of North Kohala through the provision of quality health care services with emphasis on quality of life to all patients and residents.