Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital to participate in Vigilant Guard drill, May 1

Salem, Ore. — April 28, 2012 — On May 1, from 7 a.m. until noon, Salem Hospital (Salem, Ore.) and West Valley Hospital (Dallas, Ore.) will test their ability to triage, transport, and track patients received from the first responders in conjunction with the Oregon National Guard Vigilant Guard drill.

Salem Hospital will receive, treat and track 100 mock “red” and “yellow” triage-categorized casualties. Red casualties entail life-threatening injuries and yellow have non-life threatening, but still significant injuries.

Salem Hospital will test its new “mega casualty” triage model that provides for the rapid assessment of casualties as they are received in the emergency department and swift patient movement to optimal treatment areas throughout the hospital. The practical exercise will end as the mock casualties leave the emergency department.

Data obtained from the exercise will be used later in department-specific tabletop exercises to determine how the intensive care unit, operating room, and other departments would process the patients they would have received in this event.

West Valley Hospital will set up its triage tent and receive, treat and track 20 “green” mock patients. Green patients have minor injuries. West Valley Hospital staff will determine which patients could be treated in the triage tent and send patients in to the hospital when appropriate.

Patient care will not be affected during the drills at either hospital. If an influx of real patients occurs during the drill then the drill will be cancelled. Signage is being placed on both campuses to inform patients and visitors about the drill.

Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital are part of Salem Health which also Willamette Health Partners and other affiliated healthcare organizations offering quality care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. Visit us at salemhealth.org, facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhospital; and view us at youtube.com/user/salemhealth.