Pottstown Hospital, Pottstown Police Department, and Montgomery County SWAT-Western Region recently took part in an Active Shooter Emergency Preparedness Drill in the hospital.
Jim Magee, Manager of Emergency Preparedness, said the hospital has conducted drills in the past for mass casualties resulting from biohazards and other scenarios, and felt it was the right time to do an active-shooter drill as part of its emergency planning. "We have the second-busiest emergency department in Montgomery County, which leads to a large patient base. I think it was incumbent upon our staff to do an active-shooter drill," he said.
Patient care was not interrupted because the drill was conducted in a closed unit in the hospital. Hospital administration intentionally chose this unit due to its size, allowing for a variety of scenarios during the drill. The drill helped Pottstown Hospital maintain a constant state of readiness and meet Pennsylvania Department of Health and Joint Commission requirements.
The drill was designed to prepare staff, including security and healthcare workers, for their roles in limiting casualties in an active-shooter scenario. Magee said the hospital has a good working relationship with Pottstown Police Department and Montgomery County SWAT-Western Region, and this drill provided an opportunity to enhance their collaborations. They plan to schedule future drills.
About Pottstown Hospital
Located in Pottstown, Pa., and a member of Tower Health, Pottstown Hospital is a 219-bed hospital that offers a full range of health services, including inpatient and outpatient, medical and surgical, and diagnostic and emergency care. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Pottstown Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across many service lines. The Hospital is Joint Commission-certified for hip and knee replacement and is also an accredited Chest Pain Center. Recently, Pottstown Hospital was recognized as a recipient of Get with the Guidelines/American Heart Association/American Stroke Association – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The Cancer Center at Pottstown Hospital is also nationally recognized, bringing over a decade of award-winning care to our region. The Pottstown Hospital Emergency Department, a Primary Stroke Center, is the second busiest in Montgomery County, seeing more than 45,000 patients a year. For more information, visit towerhealth.org/locations/pottstown-hospital.