Disasters Test Hospital Social Media Strategies

Hospitals and healthcare organizations should be aware of the tools at their disposal in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. One message Ryback echoes: It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg thanked New York medical staff affected by the hurricane "who carried out the incredibly well-done evacuation of more than 7,000 hospital patients and residents of nursing homes and other residential facilities in the low-lying coastal areas."

Since Irene made her mark on the East Coast, SIUH has been busy hosting an abundance of media reporters looking to cover the story of the evacuation. Ryback had hoped to show a photographer the empty beds in the emergency department. To her surprise, the room was already being filled with patients again. In the infirmary two babies occupied two of the 56 bassinets.

SUIH is quickly returning back to its original state before the storm.