KIMBALL -- Kimball Health Services participated in a Panhandle-wide disaster exercise to test how the staff would respond in the event of a tornado. 

The University of Nebraska and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services developed an exercise where the Panhandle region experienced a tornado outbreak that affected several different facilities, with most of the damage occurring at Kimball Health Services and Box Butte General Hospital. 

The exercise involved a dozen healthcare-related agencies including several hospitals, public health departments, emergency medical services, emergency management agencies, long-term care facilities and others. 

Kerry Ferguson, Director of Foundation and Community Relations at KHS said, “We tested our own ability to respond to a situation like that, as did Alliance, and the other agencies who played along evaluated how they might be able to assist.” 

In the mock scenario, the “tornado” that struck Kimball was said to have caused moderate damage and flooding to the north end of the hospital. Power was interrupted, the emergency room was unavailable, and six inpatients were transported to other facilities. 

The rehabilitation department housed a triage center for newly injured patients. The Pine Bluffs Health Clinic was closed to allow the medical staff to assist in Kimball. For additional wounded, arrangements were made to establish an alternative care site at the high school. 

According to Chief Operating Officer Stevie Webb, the drill is designed to help staff access its capability to treat patients in a “patient surge” situation, manage business continuity issues and possible patient evacuations or transfers. 

“The idea is to test how our emergency response plans and readiness compare with how we might react to a real event,” Webb said. “It was a good exercise to review our disaster protocols and identify areas we can improve on.” 

The team of 18 staff members worked together to assess resources, manage patient care, and ensure business continuity. 

“Exercises like this are always very helpful, and it’s the first one we’ve had since moving into the new facility,” Ferguson said. “It was nice to have the opportunity to see if our policies still connected with the way we would handle things if it were a real situation.”