Welcome to Oro Valley Hospital

BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS

The Oro Valley Hospital will maintain a current listing of backup/redundant communication systems or devices.  The redundant communication devices or systems are tested on a monthly basis and be included in exercises.   Oro Valley Hospital in cooperation with Arizona Department of Health Services conduct a 2 hour redundant communications exercise quarterly which tests communication redundancy as well as sustainability.

A listing of all communication of primary or secondary communication systems or devices should be listed below:

1.Alpha-numeric or digital pagers are considered as backup communications.
2.Email will only be as available as the infrastructure is working.
3.The overhead address or paging system is independent of the telephone or fire system.  These systems work independently in case of infrastructure damage.
4.Inter-departmental radios or inter-hospital radio networks are used as backup communication.  Training is given to the staff along with an instruction card attached for those that do not use the equipment often.
5.Fax machines are used as backup as long as they are on the emergency power.
6.Ham radios are available by calling Pima County OEM (798-0600) for external operators.
7.Cellular telephones or Blackberries have proven to shut down quickly during a natural or large-scale disaster.  The facility must be under the G.E.T.S. program for their hospital-issued cell phones or blackberries.  This will ensure priority of connection during a disaster.
8.State of Arizona provided satellite internet interface is also an alternative means of communications.
9.MEDS radio will be available in the ED and the State UHF radio is available in the ED.
10.WebEOC is available through Pima County OEM
11.OVH has FASTCommand internet system which may be utilized for staff direction and mass notification.
12.Runners will take some staffing requirements that may be otherwise short.

The HICS form, HICS 205 – INCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS LOG (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL), can be used prior to an event for a listing of internal and external phone numbers.  This form is also used during an event when it is determined what communications are available at the time.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207