The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is prepared to receive a possible influx of victims from yesterday's terrorist strike, should bed space in New York or Washington run out.
Although no attack victims have yet arrived at HUP, the hospital has discharged 49 patients to ensure adequate space in case of overflow from New York or Washington facilities.
"We discharged patients as a precaution, in case we receive an influx," HUP spokeswoman Rebecca Harmon said. "We discharge people every day. During the implementation of our disaster plan, we may have stepped up the process."
HUP was put on alert yesterday because of its role as one of the regional resources of emergency preparedness, Harmon said.
The three PennSTAR helicopters, which have transported more than 10,000 patients in their 13 years of service, remain ready for action at the rooftop base at HUP.
If dispatched, the helicopters will provide aid at the Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, the designated triage area.
"Their job is to transport patients to appropriate facilities," Harmon said of the helicopters, which can each hold two patients at a time. "They're basically flying ICUs."
PennStar-3 was initially ordered to depart for Teterboro yesterday afternoon, but was told to stand down at the last minute.
According to Gary Scheib, HUP's emergency room coordinator, victims of the attacks in New York and Washington will "probably not initially" be brought to either HUP, or any of Penn's three other wholly-owned hospitals.
But the chance of attack victims arriving without warning remains on the hospital's priorities.
"I think there is a possibility," Harmon said. "We are in stand-by mode."
This tragic event has led to an inundation of calls from Health System employees, eager to lend their services.
"I know that [Health System physicians] are calling and expressing their desire to help out," Harmon said. "We can probably do more for people and patients by being based here at this facility."
Health System officials remain confident that if victims come to HUP, the hospital will be fully prepared.
"We're a level-one trauma center," said Rosann Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Health System. "So we can handle it all."
In preparation for the possibility of arriving victims, HUP discharged Engineering senior Michelle White yesterday, and according to White, she wasn't supposed to be discharged until a few days from now.
White also said that other patients in her hall in the hospital were being discharged early.
But Harmon said that those discharged were fully ready to be let out, and that today's number is lower than the average 60 discharges per day.
"We never discharge a patient who is not medically stable," Harmon said.
