Marion Regional Healthcare tops in hazmat challenge

Marion Regional Healthcare System placed first in the inaugural 2009 Hospital Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) Team Challenge recently at Loris Community Hospital. The competition included teams from area hospitals performing basic Hazmat Team Operations in simulated and task-oriented scenarios.

Consisting of disaster/safety coordinator Wayne Collins, infection control nurse Lindsay Stroud, physical therapist assistant Torie McMillan, certified nursing assistant/orderly Kenneth Lasane, administrative assistant Brandy Parnell and respiratory therapist Michael Suchy, Marion Regional Healthcare’s team consistently outperformed the competition on exercises ranging from hazardous material identification to more physical exercises, including maneuvering an obstacle course with a 35 pound fluid-filled drum.

Marion Regional Healthcare System was recently recognized as a Disaster Control Center and equipped with the communications equipment that would make it a hub in the event of an incident involving hazardous materials or a weather-related event such as a hurricane or tropical storm.

For more information, visit its Web site at http://www.marioncountymedical.com.