Preparations for the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee have been underway for months, and with the influx of people in Milwaukee the week of July 15, emergency preparedness is top of mind at Froedtert Hospital, the academic medical center of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network.
“Froedtert Hospital is home to eastern Wisconsin’s only adult Level I Trauma Center, so we strive to be the benchmark for best practices for clinical and security response,” said Lisa Hass-Peters, BA, RN, emergency preparedness coordinator for Froedtert Hospital. “Emergency preparedness training is a priority year-round, and we train specifically for big events like the RNC. Our goal is to operate business-as-usual, with as few disruptions to our patients and staff as possible.”
Training Exercises and Drills Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
Leading up to the RNC, Froedtert Hospital emergency management officials met with local law enforcement agencies and first responders to do tabletop exercises that help plan for potential emergency scenarios, conducted drills to test operations and set up full-scale exercises to simulate a real-life response.
“From mass casualty response, to decontamination events or even large-scale heat exhaustion, we plan together and prepare together so we can all respond seamlessly,” Hass-Peters said. “This means the systems and protocols have been tested and are already in place should we need to care for an influx of patients or call in additional staff.”
A decontamination tent to treat chemical exposure is set up on the sidewalk outside the Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department. Hass-Peters said this was called out as a priority based on the planning discussions for the event that could bring large crowds, possible protests and possible exposure to large groups of people to pepper spray.
“We are the hospital of choice for many state and federal agencies,” Hass-Peters said. “We are the area’s only adult Level I Trauma Center, and our skills and expertise mean we are where people in our community choose to go for treatment. This is why we prepare to the level we do — so our staff is ready and so our community and patients can expect the same high level of care they always do.”
Communication is Key for a Coordinated Response
Hass-Peters brings unique perspective to her role. She spent 14 years as an emergency department trauma nurse before she transitioned to her role as emergency preparedness coordinator for Froedtert Hospital. She is also the commander for a federal disaster response unit, leading medical teams on deployment to affected areas, and she is an active member on several regional coalitions for emergency preparedness. One of her priorities has been to develop open and clear lines of communication between Froedtert Hospital and other members of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Emergency Preparedness Committee, including Children’s Wisconsin, Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Wauwatosa Police Department, the Wauwatosa Fire Department and the Milwaukee Office of Emergency Management.
“A coordinated emergency response needs to be fluid, with quick and effective communication,” Hass-Peters said. “With our training, we have the muscle memory to respond appropriately and accurately.”
During the RNC, Froedtert & MCW’s McKinley Health Center, including the FastCare® clinic, will be closed as it is in the restricted perimeter.
Level 1 Trauma Center Information
