GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Ahead of the weekend winter weather, hospitals are getting ready for business as normal.
- Two hurricanes this fall helped build the hospital's plan for inclement weather
- The hospital is ready to help anyone in need inside or outside
- RELATED: Travel to Be Impacted by Incoming Winter Storm
This whole week Scott Supernaw has been making sure all is in order. He's the manager of Emergency Management for Cone Health. One of the hospital's first priorities is the patients.
"As the week progressed, we've now looked at who we may be able to discharge home early or to a nursing facility or something like that before the storm impact. Those that may be discharged or ready for discharge during the storm we try and plan, maybe do we need to keep them an extra day or make arrangements with the family," Supernaw said.
They also brought in dozens of cots for their employees to sleep on.
"Any staff member that doesn't feel safe traveling home or needs to come in maybe the night before their shift can come in, get accommodations. They can get their meals here and such with us so that they're here and ready to care for those patients," he said.
The crew has also checked and tested all the generators. Supernaw says they've been able to build on their emergency plan, due in part to experiencing the two hurricanes this fall.
While they take care of their patients, they'll also support the National Guard members deployed to Greensboro.
"We are working as a backup to them should they require extended stay, additional food services because restaurants are closed. Whatever their needs are, we can provide some support to them."
Supernaw says hospitals are critical infrastructure, and they're ready to help those in and outside of their walls.
"When the power is out, you think of all the patients who may be at home care. They no longer have power or running water or something like that due to a storm. We really become their safety net. They know they can come to the hospital. The hospital's dependable."
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