Hurricane Barry Shut Down Urgent Care Centers—a Reminder That You Need a Disaster Plan

As predictions of high winds and flooding made headlines over the weekend, Louisiana urgent care centers who expected to see the brunt of the storm did their best to spread the word that they’d be closing up shop until the most dangerous conditions subsided. Local media carried reports of what healthcare facilities in general would be accessible, and operations such as Lafayette General Health got the word out through social media, as well, including updates on when their locations would be open. In the end, the damage was not as devastating as feared—certainly nothing close to the levels seen in past storms like Hurricane Katrina. The thing is, you don’t know how badly your area (and your business) will be affected until it’s over. If you don’t have a plan, the consequences of natural disasters could be worse, and longer lasting, than they need to be. A solid emergency disaster plan is necessary to keep your team in the loop, to ensure your systems are as safe as possible, and to keep the public informed as to your availability to provide care for them. JUCM hosted a virtual roundtable of urgent care leaders who have steered their businesses through disasters, which culminated in an article called Disaster Strikes—What’s the Plan for Your Urgent Care Center? Read it here.