The GoPrepare Recipe for Responding to Clinical Emergencies  

Lyndsie Watkins a lead physician

“Picture this: It’s a busy day in your urgent care… Unexpectedly, there is a commotion as a woman is brought in from the neighborhood right in front of the building. She appears unconscious, and you notice her staggard breathing. No one seems to know what happened prior to finding her on a nearby walking trail and bringing her in for care. 

“Would your UC team know what to do in this situation? Would you feel prepared to lead?” 

Lyndsie Watkins, a lead physician assistant with Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, asks these tough questions of colleagues in a recent The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine (JUMC) article, “Expecting the Unexpected: Emergency Preparedness in the Urgent Care Setting.” She offers invaluable perspectives on enhancing clinical emergency preparedness in urgent care and small outpatient centers that are just in time for National Preparedness Month. 

Watkins drew on her expertise as co-director of the GoPrepare clinical emergency preparedness program to offer actionable strategies that Northwell Health-GoHealth uses to ensure our centers are ready for anything. We encourage you to read the full article, but for some quick insight, here are our top takeaways. 

Top 5 Takeaways: 

  1. Stay Alert: Train your team to quickly spot and isolate patients who might spread serious infections. Acting early helps prevent outbreaks!  
  2. Clear Procedures: Set up easy-to-follow rules for using protective gear and isolating patients during emergencies. This keeps everyone safe and efficient. 
  3. Practice Drills: Hold annual mock drills to make sure your team knows how to handle life-threatening situations. These practice runs help everyone understand their role in a crisis. 
  4. Ready Supplies and Staff: Always have essential supplies on hand and be ready to adjust staffing as needed to handle emergencies and prevent the spread of infections. 
  5. Strong Communication: Create clear communication plans for staff, leadership, and emergency services. Make sure everyone knows how to activate EMS and keep operations smooth during a crisis. 

This September, we encourage you to consider what changes you might make at work, at home, and on the go, to be better prepared for the unexpected.