Jan 13 2010
Send Word Now, the leading provider of emergency notification and on-demand
alerting and response services, announced today that Unity Health System, a
681-bed health-care network based out of Rochester, New York, has selected
Send Word Now to provide emergency voice and text communication services to
its hospitals. In the event of crisis situations, Unity will use Send Word
Now's alert and conferencing features to disseminate critical information
among staff members quickly.
As an emergency
management tool, the notification
system will be used to alert selected staff members on the
organization's DECON team during a HAZMAT situation, and to respond to any
large incident resulting in a surge of patients to Unity's Emergency
Center. The system will also be used as a means to virtually gather the
incident assessment team through the use of Send Word Now's on-demand phone
bridge feature.
Unity is also excited about the application of Send Word Now's messaging
tools in the management of potential crises, such as widespread outbreak of
an illness. In its Send Word Now account, the Health System has created a
"pandemic" alert group alongside other groups targeting specific
departments. "This group will be activated if there is significant news
about an outbreak at one of our health care facilities," explained
Emergency Planning Specialist Jerry Seldes.
Seldes commented on the accessibility of Send Word Now's software platform,
noting, "We are impressed with its ease of use. Because many different
departments will need to access the system, it is important that training
our staff members is an easy process."
"We are pleased to add Unity Health System to the growing list of
healthcare providers that depend on Send Word Now's quick and reliable notification services to manage
emergency situations," said Tony Schmitz, President and CEO of Send Word
Now. "In light of the recent spread of H1N1 flu, it is especially critical
that hospitals have the proper tools to communicate both quickly and
effectively in order to protect the health of their patients and staff
members."
SOURCE: Send Word Now