The fourth module addresses department protocol in the case of a widespread emergency or crisis. It is important that all employees are familiar with their responsibilities and positions of their coworkers in the case of an emergency.
4.1 Emergency Preparedness Fan Out Plans
'The Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences has GFT offices and staff spread out over 5 hospital sites (St. Joseph's Healthcare; Juravinski Hospital (JH) Site, HHSc; Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) Site, HHSc; Juravinski Cancer Centre (JCC), HHSc; and McMaster Children's Hospital (MCH), HHSc) and one university site the Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning (MDCL). The staff members are on the payroll of McMaster University (UNIFOR members and TMG members), St. Joseph's Healthcare (CUPE members and non-union) and Hamilton Health Sciences (non-union).
The research and education activities of the Department are closely tied to the resources of the host hospitals (Hamilton General Hospital Site, HHSc; Juravinski Cancer Centre, HHSc; McMaster Children's Hospital Site, HHSc; Juravinski Hospital, HHSc; and St. Joseph's Health Care, 50 Charlton Ave East Site and St. Joseph's Centre for Ambulatory Health Services (CAHS)).
The majority of the research activity is clinical in nature and takes place in the form of clinical trials within the resources of the hospitals or as outcome analytical research involving chart audits, qualitative interview and questionnaire analysis. Bench level research in the Department is performed in collaboration with faculty from other Departments and is contained within the laboratories of the JH, MDCL and MCH. Research involving animals is usually performed within the confines of the Animal Facilities at JH, MCH, SJH and HGH.
The education activity is mostly composed of clinical teaching of clinical clerks and residents. The location of this teaching is within the confines of the area hospitals or private offices of the part-time faculty.
It is difficult to imagine an emergency or crisis that would span the whole Department and that which would encompass all of our sites at any one time; however, if such a case were to occur, the following Department of Surgery fan out will be put in effect. Working in conjunction with the hospital administrators of the impacted site(s) the Manager and Chair will implement the portions of the fan out as deemed appropriate.
Fan Out Sheet
4.2 Emergency Code System
When working within hospital sites it is imperative that all faculty and staff understand the hospital's emergency code systems.
