Sinai Leads Regional Security Project

As a recognized leaders in hospital emergency preparedness and regional planning, Sinai Hospital was one of two hospitals invited to an event Friday with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Secretary Napolitano toured the Maryland Urban Search and Rescue warehouse facility, which is being shared to house assets from the Region III Alternate Care Site project. This is part of the federally funded Urban Areas Security Initiative. Pictured at right are Christina Hughes, Franklin Square Hospital; Beth Neilson, Sinai Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; Bob Maloney, Director of Mayor's Office of Emergency Management with three of his staff members; Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Secretary Napolitano.

This Alternate Care site project has supplies and equipment to set up a field hospital in case of a natural disaster or mass emergency. It has 24-7 deployment options, which further enhances the Baltimore region's capabilities.

Sinai Hospital is the project lead on this regional initiative, one of three projects that received an overall funding award of $2 million.

"Today was an exciting day for Sinai, as there is an intense time commitment and dedication toward making these projects, which are managed over and above the day to day demands within Sinai, a successful endeavor," says Neilson. She also commended Sinai Director of Patient Care Services Diane Bongiovanni on her support for the project.

"Sinai and its leadership remains on the forefront of these initiatives based on its commitment to the safety and well-being of the patients we serve," Neilson says.

Sinai also presented on this project initiative at a national conference in Washington, D.C. in August. It supports Joint Commission emergency management requirements for community alternate care site capabilities.