At Bon Secours, our first priority is the safety of our patients, staff and visitors. As part of our overall emergency management planning, Bon Secours periodically performs practice drills to assess our response in the case of disasters, including tropical storms, hurricanes and winter weather events.
Currently, our preparations include assessing readiness for staffing, supplies, securing our facilities which include testing our emergency generators, as well as assessing our capacity in the event of emergent needs. On an ongoing basis, we are well-prepared and ready for inclement weather.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions we encounter during severe weather:
Are Bon Secours hospitals or facilities storm shelters?
When community-wide emergency situations occur, such as tropical storms, hurricanes and severe winter weather, the priority of Bon Secours is the patients who need to be in our hospitals because of health emergencies or ongoing acute care. Our staffing and resources are for our patients, and unfortunately, we are not able to function as shelters. Check with local media and city or state websites for information on evacuations, shelters and other local and regional emergency resources.
What should I do if I have a doctor’s appointment during the storm?
Office delays and closures will be broadcast on all local news stations. You can also call your physician’s office to find out if they are open or if they are rescheduling appointments.
Will my doctor's office be open to assist me with medical questions? If not, where can I obtain medical information?
Pre-planning is extremely important, especially with medications. Call your doctor's office before the storm hits to ask about closures, medication refills, and the availability of the staff. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to call in prescription refills during sever weather closings. In the event of an emergency, go directly to the nearest emergency department.
After the emergency period can I expect to be contacted by my physician's office to resume my care?
All appointments cancelled due to inclement weather closings will need to be rescheduled. As soon as possible the Bon Secours office staff will try to contact you to reschedule your care. If you do not hear from your doctor’s office within 2 days of reopening, please call to reschedule your appointment. You will not be charged for any appointments cancelled during office closures.
When will my doctor’s office reopen?
All of our locations will reopen once weather conditions are deemed to be safe for our patients and staff. Please check your local news stations, and the Bon Secours Facebook page for our status.