This past weekend, Magen David Adom (MDA) held an extensive drill that simulated a wartime emergency scenario at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel. The drill focused on the access of multiple vehicles to the hospital’s underground emergency hospital and patient triage.
Over the weekend, MDA, Israel’s pre-hospital ambulance service akin to 911 in the USA, conducted an extensive emergency response drill. The simulation mirrored a wartime scenario in which numerous ambulances needed to access Rambam’s Samy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital seamlessly.
Ensuring safe and efficient access for ambulances into the hospital is of paramount concern during wartime. Hence, drills are performed regularly to test workflow, patient reception, and functionality. The MDA drill conducted last week was part of Rambam’s effort to prepare for a full-scale war in Northern Israel.
The drill was divided into two parts. First, MDA focused on ambulance access to the underground hospital and its -1 level, where casualties are initially received. The ambulances needed to bypass the exposed above-ground routes traditionally used to bring patients to Rambam’s emergency room. The patients had to be delivered safely into the hands of waiting medical teams, and then the ambulances had to exit without impeding traffic flow.
The second part of the drill focused on patient triage, a process in which patients are assessed to determine the nature and urgency of their condition and the necessary course of treatment. The post-drill debriefing indicated that the collaboration between MDA and Rambam’s medical teams was a resounding success.
The underground hospital was built following lessons learned from the 2006 Lebanon War. The hospital found its staff and patients vulnerable when Israel faced a barrage of missile attacks from the north. A parking lot during peacetime, the entire facility extends three levels (16 meters) below ground. In wartime, it can be transformed into a fully functioning emergency hospital within 72 hours – capable of treating up to 2,000 patients.
Rambam is a vital strategic asset for the State of Israel, serving as the primary referral medical center for all of Northern Israel, including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and international peacekeeping forces operating in the area. The IDF has stationed a reserve unit at Rambam, offering invaluable support and assistance in fortifying the security of the campus alongside the hospital’s exceptional medical teams.
The Ministry of Health and the IDF Home Front Command recently ordered Rambam to open the -3 level of its underground hospital. In the event of a resurgence of hostilities in Northern Israel, the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital will provide full medical care – including imaging and surgical procedures, dialysis, and more – to patients and war casualties. This remarkable facility is a testament to the foresight and commitment of Rambam Health Care Campus in ensuring the security and well-being of the patients it serves.
Together, we stand strong to safeguard the health and well-being of our community.
Take a moment to watch this short video of the drill: https://youtu.be/6cZi-YyTGAk?si=Wj4oAbbTrZfSvp2c