East Texas Medical Facilities Practice Mass Movement of Patients

EAST TEXAS – Medical facilities in 19 east Texas counties, including Smith and Gregg counties, will be taking part in a mass exercise on Wednesday on moving a large number of patients across the region. They will be practicing handling a large group of patients following a hit by a tornado. The medical facilities will be simulating the actual process of receiving the patients, assessing their condition and treatment plans. They will also work on admitting the patient to their facility or to evacuate existing patients due to extensive damage. While hospitals and EMS agencies handle emergencies each day, there is a different process when they are moving several hundred patients at a time. Around 250 students will act as tornado victims for the exercise.