Central Ohio hospitals prepared to take action if mass shooting happened
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Central Ohio hospitals already prepared to take action, and treat patients should a mass shooting happen here at home.
"We don't have to many patients going to one hospital, when other hospitals have resources and are waiting for patients," said Dr. Daniel Bachmann, with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Hospitals around the country now reviewing their mass casualty plans after more than 50 people were killed and 500 injured after a lone sniper attack during a Las Vegas country music concert.
"It's truly overwhelming," said Paul Gabriel, Grant Medical Center Emergency Department Director, "we are the busiest trauma center in the state, it would be overwhelming for us."
Grant Medical Center is among five trauma centers that treat patients with major traumatic injuries, like car accidents, and gunshot wounds.
Grant, OSU Wexner, and Nationwide Children's Hospital are all considered Level One Trauma Centers, which have specialized medical and nursing care to treat severely injured patients
The Central Ohio Trauma System coordinates the area's mass casualty plan with hospitals and first responders.
Regular meetings are held throughout the year, as well as emergency drills.
In April, the largest mass terrorist attack drill was held in Columbus, with more than 500 mock patients treated and taken to area hospitals.
"We did learn some things, we need to focus more on," said Bachmann.
"We are in really good shape, the trauma system works very well," said Gabriel.
But despite all the planning and preparedness, Gabriel admits, "You really don't know until you are in the situation, how you are going to do it."
Central Ohio Trauma System officials tell us, they plan to review how Las Vegas hospitals and first responders handled Sunday's deadly attack, to determine if any changes or additions should be made to their emergency preparedness.
