AHA podcast explores hospital’s response to hurricanes

An American Hospital Association podcast explores the lessons Lee Health learned after enduring three major hurricanes during the past two years. After the first hurricane destroyed its communications, the Naples. Fla.-based Lee Health established a satellite internet communication center for subsequent hurricanes to restore phone and Wi-Fi access to employees and the public. It built deep wells on each campus and powered the wells with emergency generators to ensure adequate water pressure for fire suppression. Because most employees who parked at the hospital lost their vehicles during the first hurricane, Lee Health provided free rideshare services during subsequent hurricanes. It offered free childcare, direct grants to employees to rebuild or clean up and gave staff wages for two weeks to ensure people could support their families.