Faculty/Staff Response & Preparedness

Naturally, the ability of Vanderbilt Medical Center to respond to a disaster depends upon the efforts and involvement of our faculty and staff. Each faculty/staff member should understand that in the event of an emergency, the Medical Center does have an Emergency Operations Plan (Disaster Plan).

Regardless of expertise or job classification, each faculty and staff member at the Medical Center has a role in responding to an emergency. Understanding your role and being prepared is critical to our ability to sustain operations in the chaotic environment that may ensue if a disaster occurs.

Responding to Disaster

If the crisis that initiated the decision to activate the Emergency Operations Plan is large or may be prolonged, the VMC emergency response team may decide to call in additional staff members. This may include faculty and staff who may not have prior experience in a disaster or disaster drill.

It is important to have a Family Disaster Plan in place ahead of time to allow you to respond to the needs of the Medical Center and our community. There are several steps to take to ensure the safety of your family and improve your ability to help in the event of a disaster: have a family plan that includes where to meet in the event that communications are lost in the city; have a plan to deal with child care, pets, and elderly family members.

If you work at more that one healthcare facility, determine which one you will report to first in the event of a disaster. Let your supervisor know if you have more than one job that may conflict in times of disaster.

Be aware of your role in an emergency and understand where you should report to in the event of a major disaster. Be flexible in the tasks in which you may be asked to participate. Your participation in disaster planning, drills, and training will help ensure Vanderbilt is able to respond to a variety of crisis.

Be aware of the risks that some patients represent to the medical center. For example, patients arriving at Vanderbilt may need to be decontaminated. Equipment has been installed to insure that faculty and staff can safely care for patients who are contaminated or contagious.

VUMC is committed to the well-being of staff that may be asked to work in times of disaster. Plans are in place to help treat medical staff and their families with appropriate medications in the case of a disease outbreak. Child care is available on a limited basis. Plans are in process to address pet care and eldercare. Methods of keeping all faculty and staff informed about details of the incident are in place.

Emergency Resources for VUMC Faculty & Staff

AlertVU rapidly sends messages to the delivery points a subscriber chooses—cell phone (voice or text), land line, or e-mail account—in the event of an emergency that poses an imminent threat or danger to the Vanderbilt community. www.vanderbilt.edu/alertvu