OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwire - Jan 30, 2012) - On May 22, 2011, St. John's Regional Medical Center was devastated by an EF5 tornado when it tore through Joplin, Missouri. Despite the odds, the hospital continued to provide care and save patients' lives because its staff had successfully tested and implemented effective emergency preparedness and disaster management plans. This spring, Dennis Manley, the director of quality and risk management at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri, will be a featured presenter at The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources' (JCR) eighth annual emergency preparedness conference, *M + P + R2 = Resilience (*Mitigation + Preparedness + Response and Recovery), April 11-12 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, Va. Mr. Manley will discuss the impact of the damage on the hospital caused by the tornado, how it was managed, and what lessons were learned in the process.
The 2012 Emergency Preparedness Conference will supply attendees with a portfolio of emergency management strategies using real life lessons taken from specific events, like the Joplin, Missouri tornado, and effective tools that can be implemented upon return to their organizations. Plenary sessions will also include presentations from George Mills, director of engineering at The Joint Commission, on the on-site follow up and post-event strategies that were used during disasters like the tornado that hit St. John's Regional Medical Center and Hurricane Katrina, and from Tommie Murray, chief quality officer at Vermont State Hospital, who will discuss what happened when Vermont State Hospital had to manage an evacuation without emergency crew assistance due to severe flooding from Hurricane Irene.
The focus of the 2012 conference is to examine how Joint Commission accreditation standards provide health care organizations with the framework needed to prepare for and continue care in the face of an emergency. The conference will also demonstrate how the four phases of emergency management -- mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery -- create resilient health care organizations, capable of coping with the stress and adversity of any disaster.
In addition, an emergency preparedness pre-conference will be offered April 10 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, Va. The morning session of the pre-conference will address the foundations of The Joint Commission's emergency management standards. The afternoon session will enhance attendees' knowledge of emergency management through evacuation, pandemic and active shooter/hostage scenarios.
The Emergency Preparedness Conference and pre-conference are recommended for health care emergency staff, safety officers, medical directors, nursing trauma coordinators, security directors, facilities managers, operations directors, emergency response planners and members of community agencies responsible for developing emergency plans. Attendees can register for the Emergency Preparedness Conference individually for $749. Attendees may also register for a discounted price of $629 per person 30 days prior to the conference with the use of the promotional code "EB." To register for the conference, please call JCR Customer Service at (877) 223-6866 or for additional details and a conference agenda, register online at http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/2012-Annual-Emergency-Preparedness-Conference/4560/.
Individuals who are interested in the Emergency Preparedness Conference should also consider attending the 2012 Environment of Care Base Camp and the Exploring the Life Safety Chapter of the Joint Commission seminars. Additional details on these seminars and all other JCR educational conferences for 2012 are available at http://www.jcrinc.com/Conferences-and-Seminars/.
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also provides certification of more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
Joint Commission Resources (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, is the official publisher and educator of The Joint Commission. JCR is an expert resource for health care organizations, providing consulting services, educational services and publications to assist in improving quality and safety and to help in meeting the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission. JCR provides consulting services independently from The Joint Commission and in a fully confidential manner. Please visit our Web site at www.jcrinc.com.
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