KIDZ Medical Services reposted this
President and Chief Executive Officer at KIDZ Medical Services & Emergency Pediatric Services
Today is the anniversary of #HurricaneAndrew. I got a firsthand look at how courageous the nurses, doctors, and all the staff of Homestead Hospital could be. They climbed out of their own wrecked homes, battered, bruised, traumatized, and showed up to take care of the patients and each other. We formed bonds for life that can never be broken. The wind howled, the building trembled, windows imploded, nurses covered the patients with their own bodies to protect them. The doors had to be chained shut to keep the wind and water out. Every inch of the hospital was full of patients, rooms, hallways, offices, cafeteria. When the sun came up, the brave A Team looked out at total devastation as far as the eye could see. Would anyone come to relieve them so they could find out if their own families were ok? Could they? The doors were unchained, there were dozens and dozens of people outside, injured, dirty, and beat up. The CNO says where are we going to put more patients? But, they weren’t patients. It was the B Team, showing up for their brothers and sisters.
It is amazing how resilient we are: our patients, staff, management, vendors, all of us! We are blessed in many ways. We come together and exceed expectations. Our rebuilding is complete, and the hardships are behind us. We choose to forgive and move forward. Our buildings endured with minor damage, and now we are enhancing their strength with improved systems. We are truly blessed!
What an incredible memory and testament to those brave men and women! I remember our MGE team coming to see the damage, we would later that year make a presentation at the AHCA seminar of how the building performed and how the unique construction of masonry partitions made a difference and may have been a huge factor in overcoming this one in a 100 year wind event! Resilience, dedication and true grit carried the day ! Thank you to everyone that made what could have been very different outcome such a resounding success!
Hurricane Andrew became the springboard for Hurricane preparedness as we see it today. Healthcare organizations should continue to increase their resilience by listening to great leaders like Wayne Brackin, who continue to share their vast experience.
Wayne I do appreciate reading this as it reminds us what true TEAM work and CARE looks like. This is such an inspiring leadership story, you really should write a book. Thank you for your service and your leadership.
Mr. Bracken it was always a great pleasure working with you at Homestaed then at Corporate. You were always positive and very inspiring and the only executive to always remember your bedside employees names. You truly walk the talk. Thank you.
And that was just the middle of you continuing to give your all. I still remember you relentless positive spirit after the car wreck, and you wearing that brace.
As always, your leadership was above and beyond.
Sincerely appreciate you posting this story and picture every year….unique picture of a true leader in shorts on top of a picnic table
CEO, Consultant Joint Commission & CMS Prep, Standards Interpretation, Survey Specialist, Gap & Tracer Analysis
2moMy husband and I (both nurses) led Team to receive children from Shriner’s Burn Hospital during a hurricane. The corporate system I used to work for reopened the hospital I used to run. They cleaned it, put security cameras in, got beds, mattresses, linen, and lined up meals. The communities surrounding area sent volunteers, the teachers that were bilingual in Spanish came as our kids came from Central/South America. The kids were the outpatient population; Boston and Cincinnati took the inpatients. A bus brought the kids, any parent, nurses, physical therapists and doctors. I went to WalMart to buy TVs, Spanish videos, coloring books,crayons,and protein drinks(they donated it).It takes a lot of calories to heal. McDonald’s,Sonic,Dairy Queen,and KFC sent food plus hosp.Local Sheriff/police departments/EMS and biker club volunteered for security. Laundry service was done by local dry cleaning/laundry and hospitals. Some of the kids with lower level treatments played soccer outside. We found lead security man crying. He saw a little girl remove her prosthetic leg covered by socks after playing soccer. The biker club gave kids an Escort out of town. American at its best. Pictures went home with kids from Shriner’s photography.