HASC Board Member Jenifer Nyhuis related the harrowing tale of 2017’s Thomas Fire at Tuesday’s Disaster Planning for California Hospitals opening session. Above, Nyhuis speaks before a projected slide of the devastating event. 

Hospital professionals from across California are gathered at this week’s Disaster Planning for California Hospitals at the Pasadena Conference Center. The theme of this year’s meeting, which runs through today, is The New Norm: Adjusting Our Strategies. 

More than 710 hospital managers and others enrolled in this year’s event, California Hospital Association Education Program Development Director Robyn Thomason told HASC Briefs. 

Jenifer Nyhuis, a HASC board member, related the story of patient evacuation and the loss of Aurora Vista del Mar Hospital’s administration building on the night of Dec. 4, 2017 — due to Ventura County’s Thomas Fire. The session focused on the critical role facility leaders play in crisis situations.

Speakers from other Pasadena sessions highlighted the critical role hospitals played in 2018’s Camp Fire in Butte County and examined the threats that earthquakes, climate change, terrorism and workplace violence pose to hospitals and Californians.

Over the course of two days, event speakers reiterated the message that planning and preparedness make a critical difference in the state’s evolving and volatile threat environment.

“Hospitals devote extensive time and resources to ensure that patients, staff and visitors are safe… when disaster strikes,” said Mary Massey, CHA’s vice president of emergency management. “This unique conference brings together disaster preparedness experts from across the state to share best practices and real-world experiences that will benefit all Californians.”

Learn more about this year’s Disaster Planning for California Hospitals event here.

Contact:
Adam Blackstone
(213) 538-0761
ablackstone@hasc.org