The Santa Barbara Fire

On Tuesday May 5th an innocent plume of smoke rose into the sky from the Santa Barbara Foothills. Aided by sundowner winds, that plume of smoke and embers quickly escalated into a blanket of flames threatening downtown. A perfect storm of hot weather, a dry season and prevailing winds, fed what became known as the Jesusita fire which swallowed up acre after acre, heading toward the Santa Barbara Surgery Center. SBSC and its neighbors were placed under Evacuation Warning as ash rained down like a winter blizzard.

SBSC patients and physicians needed to be notified right away of the current evacuation status, and 50+ surgery cases needed to be rescheduled. Many patients and physicians had been evacuated from their homes but the diligent staff at SBSC worked around the clock to touch base directly with each of them. Despite their efforts they were unable to get ahold of 2 of the patients that had been displaced by the fire and had prepped for their procedures in a local hotel. When they showed up ready for their procedures the next morning, the staff contacted the local hospital (who was not under evacuation warning). Those patients were able to have their cases done there within 2 hours of their scheduled start time with SBSC.

Once evacuation orders were lifted, SBSC was able to recapture all their remaining cases through the efficiency of their hardworking schedulers, physicians, and staff who worked as a team to make it all happen despite circumstances beyond their control.

A disaster could not have been avoided if it were not for the specific efforts of several individuals:

Sean Noel stayed late Wednesday evening, making copies of the Advantx schedules for the next week and helping call the patients scheduled for the next day to inform them of the cancellation. He made sure the OR gases were turned off and covered. He also moved equipment to improve access to the building for emergency personnel.

Susie Hahn helped keep staff and physicians informed of all developments. She was an instrumental part in all decisions during the entire fire episode. Renee Takis closely monitored the local emergency management information and kept staff apprised.

Irma Avila manned all phones at the front desk. At the peak of the emergency Clair Beck helped move the server out of the business office in order to save critical business and patient information. Wendy Gillespie helped reconnect the server and keep the center’s computers accessible.

Rob Welti supported the management’s decision to evacuate and stayed in close contact with Regent Surgical Health.

After the “all clear” was given, Annette Eddy arrived at the center to assist with clean-up efforts and prepare SBSC for reopening.

Finally, Dena Rockwell-McGague not only orchestrated all SBSC’s actions and led the executive team’s decision to close the center, but also aided her teammates in all aspects of the emergency efforts from calling patients to moving computers.

Because of the prudent decisions and valiant actions of the SBSC staff, patients experienced the utmost care and satisfaction during this time of challenge.
 

Thomas Mallon, CEO
Regent Surgical Health
P. 708.686.1522
F. 708.492.0547