A huge success! That is what Centinela Hospital Medical Center is calling last week's multi-agency decontamination drill. Participating agencies included the Inglewood Police Department, The City of Inglewood, LA County Fire, The Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), The McCormick Ambulance, The Medical Alert Center (MAC) and the Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS).

Over 160 people participated in last Thursday's decontamination drill, including thirty-five moulaged ‘mock' victims. The victims were divided into two groups, one group had to be decontaminated and triaged by LA County Fire and transported via ambulance to the hospital, while the second group of victims underwent the hospital's process of decontamination, triage and treatment.

"I am pleased with the coordination, speed, and cooperation demonstrated by Inglewood's Police Department and other City departments during our recent drill with Centinela Hospital," said Timothy E. Wanamaker, Inglewood City Administrator.   "Our city government proved that we are ready to support the Hospital during a widespread emergency if and when it may become necessary to do so.  While we all pray that such an event will never come, we continue to prepare ourselves to face such a possibility," Wanamaker added.   

The Drill was an effort by the hospital as a first receiver and a mass-casualty facility to test its bio-decontamination capabilities, train its staff, and test its communications mechanisms and protocols with outside responding agencies.

Dr. Lee Weiss, Chairman of the Department of Emergency Services and member of the Medical Executive Committee and the Hospital's Governing Board, participated in the triage and treatment of victims. "As a citizen and as a person who could have been impacted by the catastrophe, I was encouraged and optimistic by what I saw. There was a great sense of camaraderie, collaboration, and great sense of responsibility amongst everyone who participated. All agencies had a unifying purpose, to do the greatest good for the community, and that was impressive! I was very proud of being a member of Centinela," said Dr. Weiss.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the San Diego fires, the recent Chino Hills 5.4 Earthquake and the Metrolink accident, there is increasing pressure on hospitals to test their disaster response efforts along with their emergency management plans. As first receivers, hospitals play a key role in the immediate care and safety of disaster victims, patients, and the communities they serve.

"Only through continuous practice and education on emergency response can hospitals and cities alike prepare their staff to become more proactive in the event a disaster strikes," stated Claudia Marroquin-Frometa, Disaster Planner and drill coordinator for Centinela Hospital.

"It was especially gratifying to see the progress and success by this hospital. There was an enormous amount of preparation and groundwork which made the drill a success. The community should be very proud by the community relations that were established by Centinela reaching out," added Dr. Weiss.

Centinela has more Emergency Medical Service runs than any other hospital in LA County.

Centinela Hospital Medical Center* is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services Inc., Victorville, California. Prime Healthcare Services Inc., is a progressive, innovative and rapidly expanding hospital management company in Southern California. With over 8,000 employees, Prime Healthcare currently owns and operates twelve acute care facilities with over 2000 beds in California. Prime Healthcare's mission is to provide comprehensive quality healthcare in a compassionate, convenient and cost-effective manner. For more information please visit www.primehealthcare.com.