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HARRISONBURG –According to participants and observers, the RMH mock patient move on April 8 was a resounding success as a trial run for the actual patient move on June 22.
“This was one of the best mock moves I’ve seen,” said Kevin Mettler of Health Care Transitions, the organization helping RMH plan its move. “It was extremely well-orchestrated. Also, the senior leadership at RMH was more engaged than I have seen anywhere.”
Several RMH senior leaders served as mock patients for the event. More than 150 people participated in the practice move, including RMH employees, city of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County rescue squads, local communications officers, law enforcement, and fire and rescue personnel.
The mock move tested processes, procedures, staffing, communications, patient transfers, and move route and timing using nine mock “patients” and four local rescue squad units. The practice began at 7 a.m.—although many RMH staff started preparing as early as 2 a.m.--and concluded by 10:30 a.m.
During a debriefing session that followed the exercise, move team members and participants shared feedback and suggestions to make the actual patient move day, June 22, even better.
Brandon Peavy, chief of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, said his team was pleased to be a part of the day’s events.
“It’s good to see our plans in action,” he said. “There’s no way you can truly prepare for everything on paper—it’s important to actually do it. The RMH staff and EMS worked well together. It was all pretty much seamless.”
Donna Wilmoth, RN, director, Nursing Administration, and move commander, said she was very pleased with the teamwork displayed during the move.
“We got great feedback from our patients and observers,” she said. “Based on that feedback, we will make some adjustments to our processes and communication. But overall, I think the move was a success in that we transferred our patients safely and efficiently. And the community support was just astronomical! We are grateful for that support and for the superb teamwork among the EMS folks and our hospital staff.”
Donna Hahn, RN, chief nurse executive, and vice president, Acute Care Services, said the April 8 event was the culmination of extensive planning.
“Our number one commitment at RMH is to our patients’ safety,” she said. “This exercise helped us ensure that we have taken the utmost precautions to ensure the safety of our patients during our patient move day, June 22. I am proud of the dedicated team that helped make this event a success.”
RMH leaders expect to move approximately 110 patients using 22 local rescue units during the official move on June 22.
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