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September was National Preparedness Month, an observance to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.

On September 16, 2023, first responders from throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, including seven fire companies, participated in a disaster preparedness drill at Penn Highlands Mon Valley. During the exercise, dozens of firefighters, EMTs and police officers joined hospital staff to test their readiness to manage a simulated fire in the hospital. The event was part of the hospital's continuing efforts to ensure the safety of its patients, visitors and staff.

“The drill was a great learning exercise for our team,” explained Diane Cooper, RN, BSN, MSN, Director of Quality/Risk Management at Penn Highlands Mon Valley. “We discovered firsthand the effectiveness of our policies and procedures and identified where opportunities exist for improvement.” 

Penn Highlands Mon Valley has a Disaster Preparedness Committee that is comprised of hospital leaders, physicians and staff members, who meet regularly to review procedures to ensure an effective response to disasters or emergencies that affect the environment of care. 

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