Friday, November 8, 2013

Hospital Strengthens "Storm Ready" Status


    
Kelly Pearce, vice president of operations at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton. photo by Diana Linsley
    










By Holly Shanks

Published in "South County Times"
November 8, 2013

     Come blizzard, ice storm, hail or high water, SSM St. Clare Health Center has been declared a Storm Ready supporter by the St. Louis National Weather Service (NWS).

     The Storm Ready program is a collaboration between the St. Louis NWS and local city, county and business emergency management teams. The designation helps ensure hospital preparedness procedures are in place for weather hazards ranging from mild to severe.

     Kelly Pearce, vice president of operations at SSM St. Clare Health Center in Fenton, said the Storm Ready program offers a chance to validate systems the center already has in place. He said the on-site evaluation required for certification also offers new perspectives and suggestions to assist in St. Clare's quality control efforts.

     "We thought that it would be a great opportunity to try to improve ourselves. That was really the driving force behind it," Pearce said. "To bring additional experts in and make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our patients safe."