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Proposed by: Laura Boudreau
Contact (name, email, phone, skype): lboudreau@worldbank.org, 908-601-8539
Best way and times to contact during RHoK 2.0 Dec 4/5 2010: Cell phone: 908-601-8539
Similar to “Your Kids Are Okay” Families with loved ones in hospitals, nursing homes, or prisons often are unable to communicate directly by phone or internet with their loved one (for reasons ranging from their loved one being incapable of communication to facility policies to lack of facility infrastructure). In the case of disaster or emergency, this inability to communicate can lead to a highly problematic situation where families are unaware of their loved ones well-being and/or location, and may overwhelm the facility by having panicky family members trying to physically reach the facility to find their loved one. In this context, the application would enable hospitals, nursing homes, and/or prisons to immediately send a message to families of patients, residents, or inmates with the following information: 1) The patients/residents/inmates are okay; 2) [In the case of evacuation,] they are being moved to X location; 3) The protocol for loved ones to follow if they would like to reach their loved one.
Problem: Ashley’s twin sister Mary Kate went into the hospital for a small surgical procedure that would keep her in the hospital for three days, during which time she would be conscious but groggy from medication. Although Ashley wanted to stay by Mary Kate’s side, her busy work schedule didn’t allow her to remain at the hospital. The day Mary Kate entered the hospital, the forecast predicted a major storm to pass over the next province within 48 hours. The hospital decided to remain open, as there was anticipated to be little impact. The night after Mary Kate’s surgery, however, the storm changed direction and was now headed directly toward the hospital. At 12 a.m., the decision was made to evacuate all patients to a hospital 40 kilometers away, out of the storm’s path. The staff entered emergency procedure mode. At 4 a.m., a loud noise outside Ashley’s house woke her up. The storm was closing in, and her first thought was for her sister. She had no idea what the hospital would do in case of emergency. Solution: The hospital takes Ashley’s contact information when Mary Kate enters the facility. This information is stored in a database that is part of a software application that allows the hospital to message all patients’ families with the following information in case of an emergency: 1) The patients are okay; 2) [In the case of evacuation,] they are being moved to X location; 3) The protocol for loved ones to follow if they would like to reach (physically or by phone) their loved one.
The input system for when the tool will be used following a disaster must be very simple and allow for immediate deployment of the message to families. It would also be beneficial for the instrument to be able to be manipulated so that if different wards of the hospital are following different procedures, each group of relevant families can be sent a unique message. Must be cost efficient.
The above example is for how this tool would be used in a hospital, but it is intended that this tool will also be used in the contexts of nursing homes and prisons, where residents/inmates are usually unable to communicate directly with their family members. This problem definition is also similar to the “Your Kids Are Okay” problem definition.
The Safe Hospitals Initiative was launched in April, 2010 (World Health Organization, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Pan American Health Organization, and the World Bank: http://safehospitals.info/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=103
This work can be taken to real world users through the GFDRR, the Safe Hosptials Initiative, the Red Cross, the UNISDR, etc., all of which work in improving hospitals’ disaster preparedness. These organizations could also work on this initiative for nursing homes and prisons. It is highly likely that this software would be of great interest to these organizations.
See “Your Kids Are Okay” problem definition for schools.