‘Barraged with Victims’
Clinical Engineering Department Responds to
Boston Bombings
Jim Piepenbrink is the director of the Clinical Engineering Department at Boston Medical Center. Like many hospital employees, he won’t soon forget the events of April 15.
Marathon Monday, as it is commonly called in Boston, had a normal feel to it. We had a full staff available in Clinical Engineering. Around 2:50 p.m., we received a page through the disaster response system that an explosion occurred at the finish line of the marathon. A second explosion occurred just a few seconds later, and the hospital immediately declared an emergency and opened up the command center.
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| Dexter, the Boxer, brings relief to patients and families. |
I am one of the incident command chiefs during disasters, responsible for oversight of all incident-related intelligence, situation and status information, and incident documentation. My branch manages occupancy and staffing resources to meet the demands of the event. We also track patients and facilitate family reunification and oversee command center operations and schedules. My team in Clinical Engineering responded by ensuring that all available portable devices were operational, and was available in any capacity necessary to support the huge influx of victims.
We are prepared for emergencies and drill regularly. What was different about this event was that by the time the normal channel of notification broadcasted the anticipated volume of patients to hit us and an ETA, we were already being barraged with victims. There was little triage in the field, so there was little time to assemble what we would need for staff, supplies, etc.
Boston Medical Center handled this incredibly, and the victims we have treated have progressed nicely due to the excellent care we provide.
An incredible side note to this story is that we in Clinical Engineering have a therapy dog as part of our team. Dexter, a 7-year-old Boxer, has been a huge help to the victims and families of this horrific event. He visits patients and the family waiting rooms and brings a huge smile to those who desperately need a break. I think that, aside from the technical support we provide, this emotional support is equally important.
Posted: April 24, 2013