October 18, 2023 – Patients in need of dialysis cannot miss their treatments, even when faced with the uncertainties of war. Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam), in Haifa, Israel, is preparing for every eventuality to ensure continuity of care for the residents of Northern Israel.
Setting up patients in the dialysis stations of Rambam’s underground hospital. Photography: Rambam HCC.
The Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) is essential for Northern Israel’s preparedness for mass casualty situations, be they natural disasters or war. Drills are performed as part of the preparation for optimal operation in case war breaks out in the north.
This week an important drill was performed to test the procedure for receiving patients in need dialysis. The test involved receiving dialysis outpatients, bringing them to a designated area with dialysis stations set up on the -3 level of the underground hospital, and then connecting them to the appropriate device for four hours.
Dr. Suheir Assady, director of the Department of Nephrology & Hypertension at Rambam shares. “The underground hospital has 94 dialysis stations in place, ready to receive patients.” She then described the importance of the drill. “The lessons we learned from this drill will help us treat dialysis patients, whether it is the transfer of an entire ward to the underground hospital, or receiving dozens of dialysis outpatients from the north.”
Setting up patients in the dialysis stations of Rambam’s underground hospital.
Photography: Rambam HCC.