Wildfire disaster leads to facilities evacuation.

Disaster preparedness in the healthcare setting traditionally focuses on accepting the capacity surge and influx of patients in time of crisis. The concept of a hospital evacuation is given little thought, and minimal time is spent practicing even though healthcare organizations have identified a hazard vulnerability that may require a full-scale evacuation. One healthcare organization recently pushed its staff to stretch its idea of disaster preparedness when it evacuated a community hospital and skilled nursing facility to ensure the safety of its patients and staff. The success of the evacuation was attributed to communication, preplanning, and leadership within the organization.