St. Louis Children's Hospital's Mobile Health Unit Participates in Emergency Planning   [open pdf - 65KB]

"Saint Louis Children's Hospital (SLCH) integrated its mobile pediatric health units, the Healthy Kids Express (HKE), into emergency preparedness planning and drills. By parking the HKE outside the emergency room (ER) during mass casualty incidents (MCI) and relocating some emergency care functions to the program's two vans, SLCH will reduce congestion in the ER. Four potential uses for the HKE have been discussed: triage, chemical decontamination, vaccination for SLCH employees, and vaccination for the general public. All of these emergency services could be delivered as effectively by the HKE as by the SLCH emergency room. The vans have participated in one emergency response drill, and will continue to play a role in SLCH's emergency preparedness efforts."