Erlanger Creates Regional Operations Center

CGATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – Hospitals by their very nature are difficult to manage minute-by-minute.
Communications tend to lag between departments and there are usually hundreds of people coming and going at any time.
But Erlanger Health System has created a Regional Operations Center that addresses all of those needs…and does the job from one room.

KEVIN SPIEGEL, PRES. & CEO, ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM "This is the most advanced communications center in the country right now."

It’s a glimpse at medical care of then future….with a goal of instant communications and fast, correct decisions about patients.
Erlanger’s Regional Operations Center is now open.

MAYOR ANDY BERKE, CHATTANOOGA  "Erlanger is the natural place for this development for us to see the trauma care, the treatment that people need coming right here to the city of Chattanooga."

REP. CHUCK FLEISCHMANN, (R) TENNESSEE  "Many of my constituents in rural areas..who have been typically underserved …Now will also have the benefit of Erlanger and this great regional health care facility."

Scores of city leaders got their first look today.

ROBBIE TESTER, ADMINISTRATOR, REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (IN:35:50) "Everyone who has a decision on getting a patient in here…taking care of them, assigning the appropriate type of bed…and getting them discharged …Its all within this center."

DONALD E.BARKER, MD, MEDICAL DIR OF LIFE FORCE  " I think it will help us get our patients here safely…and it will provide access to the various areas within the hospital more easily for the patient."

Erlanger serves a wide area of southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, Alabama and western North Carolina.
CEO Kevin Spiegel led the tour of the new control center.

KEVIN SPIEGEL, PRES.& CEO  "You call one phone number and get to these operators..they have a no turn-down policy ..So anybody seeking a higher level of care…can call us and we will immediately find them a bed."

Get used to hearing the word E-Rock—that’s what it will be called for short.

Erlanger reports that there are 37-thousand calls a year for emergency services.
Life Force got 5-thousand calls last year requesting medical air transport.
Those services will also be controlled from the Erlanger Regional Operations Center.