Media Advisory: Hackensack University Medical Center to hold press conference at 4 p.m. at Ocean Medical Center

HACKENSACK, N.J., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Hackensack University Medical Center:

WHAT: Hackensack University Medical Center Continues to Respond to Hurricane Sandy – HackensackUMC Mobile Satellite Emergency Vehicles deployed to hospitals in Ocean and Hudson counties

WHO: Representatives from HackensackUMC and Ocean Medical Center

WHERE: Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Boulevard, Brick, NJ

WHEN: Thursday, November 1 at 4 p.m.

****MEDIA ADVISORY****

Hackensack University Medical Center Continues to Respond to Hurricane Sandy

Mobile Satellite Emergency Vehicles Deployed to Hospitals in Ocean and Hudson Counties

In the wake of one of the most devastating storms to hit New Jersey, Hackensack University Medical Center is proud to offer a full spectrum of emergency services and technology to provide lifesaving care to our neighbors. At approximately 9:30 a.m. today, HackensackUMC began to deploy its Mobile Satellite Emergency Department (MSED) vehicles to two New Jersey locations – Brick (Ocean Medical Center, Ocean County) and Hoboken (Hudson County) to provide lifesaving medical assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The MSED vehicles, a breakthrough in medicine and cutting-edge technology, are being deployed to respond to affected communities' emergency healthcare needs. They are one of only a few mobile hospitals of their kind in the nation, funded through a unique partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense. The core of the mobile hospital complex exist in the form of a 43-foot semi truck with expandable sides, and are fully outfitted with seven critical care beds each having monitor-defibrillator capability; portable digital X-ray unit; telemedicine capability; portable field laboratory; small pharmaceutical cache; overhead medical procedure lighting; and onboard medical gases. They are rapidly deployable, fully-functional mobile emergency departments. The Mobile Acute Care Hospital (MACH) is the fully deployed compliment of thirteen vehicles that include four (4) of the semi trailers that can be assembled with fully enclosed connectors to form two – seven bed ED's, an ICU unit and a mobile Operating Room, all supported by the support vehicle compliment. The initial deployment to Brick will include one MSED unit until an full assessment of need has been made.

In addition to the main MSED unit, HackensackUMC will deploy six MSED support vehicles for communications, supplies and equipment. Seventeen members from HackensackUMC, including emergency physicians, nursing and operations personnel, and members of the EMS Task Force (through the New Jersey Department of Health) will be on-site to staff the MSED in Brick. Staff members from Hoboken University Medical Center will staff the MSED units in Hoboken after HackensackUMC staff sets up the units.  As always, HackensackUMC's helicopter, AirMed One, remains ready for deployment, should the need arise for air rescue during Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.

On Monday, October 29, the same HackensackUMC MSED units were deployed to Hillsborough, New Jersey in Somerset County. The team was charged with providing emergency healthcare to surrounding low-lying communities that were previously cut off from emergency care during Hurricane Irene last year.  As it turned out, Dr. Herman Morchel and the MSED team delivered a 5 lb., 2 oz., baby boy at 11 p.m.

When it matters most, HackensackUMC is prepared to keep our communities safe.

SOURCE Hackensack University Medical Center