Good Samaritan Medical Center Stands StormReady
National Weather Service designation says hospital is prepared for emergencies
Good Samaritan emergency management coordinator Michael Ciavatta, left, and Chief Operating Officer Steve Hankins, right, receive the StormReady recognition from Greg Heavener, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder.
Lafayette, CO – Colorado seasons each bring their own brand of weather, and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette stands ready for whatever comes its way.
Recently the National Weather Service recognized Good Samaritan Medical Center as a StormReady® Supporter. The hospital received the designation because it proved it has enhanced communication to alert caregivers about weather events and has scripted procedures to respond to those events.
Good Samaritan system emergency manager Michael Ciavatta said the planning is designed to guide hospital caregivers before, during and after a severe weather event. Ciavatta started in his role in 2022, coming to the SCL Health hospital, now part of Intermountain Health, after a career in law enforcement and the National Guard.
“This is a benefit to our hospital and to the community,” he said. “We have the plans and the processes in place and can show community members how we will continue to serve them even during severe weather.”
According to the National Weather Service, about 98% of disasters declared by the President stem from severe weather, causing hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage. Having a grassroots team of StormReady® Supporters can help people at the local level to be more prepared for emergencies and save lives.
There are 925 StormReady® Supporters nationwide including 14 in Colorado.
Intermountain Health operates multiple clinics and hospitals in Colorado and in six other western states. Intermountain is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.