Teamwork is key in Joplin tornado effort

In this week’s installment of his weekly blog for CoxHealth staff, Dr. John Duff, senior vice president of hospital services, talks about the early response efforts following the Joplin tornado. Given the wide impact of Sunday’s disaster, we wanted to share his thoughts with you:

"This week the nation is focused on the devastation in the Joplin community. The tornado resulted in a historic loss of life, injuries and destruction to their town. The stories of personal hardship and tragedy that are now emerging are truly heartbreaking. Our region and state have responded to the needs in Joplin with an outpouring of support, assistance and resources.

CoxHealth has joined in the response and our staff members have been a major part of the effort. Sunday evening preparation began in anticipation of the injured patients and transfer of patients from the seriously damaged St. John’s (Joplin) hospital. Many staffers gladly worked additional shifts and longer hours. Our physicians provided treatment for the injured and ill patients brought to the Emergency Department. They also were of great assistance opening up critical care and unit beds as rapidly as possible to make room for the Joplin patients.

Our new Emergency Department and Incident Command Center provided the space and resources necessary to support the staff and physicians as they went about their work. The years of careful planning and attention to detail in the Emergency Department paid off during this disaster. Everyone who played a role in the development of this space should be proud.

Many of our staff members have felt personal loss and challenges as a result of the tornado. I’ve heard about worries over family and friends who may be unaccounted for or who are injured. At least six Cox employees have had total losses of their homes.

Donations are being accepted in their honor through the Cox Family Assistance Fund. The Oxford Joplin office was totally destroyed. The Oxford staff is working out of a church in order to continue to provide care to their patients, some of whom have not yet been located.

Disasters bring out generosity in people. As early as Sunday night, physicians, nurses and EMTs, at the request of Missouri Hospital Association, were dispatched to the Joplin area and assisted with the immediate response. CoxHealth has provided needed medical supplies, ambulances, staff and clinical services to the surrounding area. At this time, the Joplin medical community is adequately staffed by the St. John’s (Joplin) displaced workers as well as individuals from the Kansas City area. Our Nursing Administration Office is currently managing a list of clinical staff at CoxHealth who would be willing to assist in Joplin or elsewhere should the need arise.

The CoxHealth Foundation is coordinating employees’ donations of personal supplies for Joplin residents. We know the needs won’t end soon. As the immediate crisis ends, cleanup and rebuilding will begin and assistance from all of us will be just as valuable as it already has been.

We are blessed to have caring, compassionate and talented people at CoxHealth and in our community. I’d like to thank all who have helped for their response to this disaster. Remember to keep the Joplin community in your thoughts as they recover and rebuild."