Above All, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we will strive to deliver high quality, cost-effective healthcare in the community we serve and work to protect the health of the public to the best of our ability.
In pursuit of our mission, we believe the following value statements are essential and timeless:
- We recognize and affirm the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual
- We treat all those we serve with compassion and kindness
- We strive to act with absolute honesty, integrity, and fairness in the way we conduct our business
- We trust our co-workers as valuable members of our healthcare team and pledge to treat one another with loyalty, respect, and dignity
In addition, our agency hopes to establish a culture that promotes the prevention, detection, and resolution of conduct that does not conform to federal and state law: federal, state and private payer health care program requirements; and the agency's own business policies.
The 4 Principles of Hand Awareness
1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating
2. Do not cough into your hands
3. Do not sneeze into your hands
4. Do not put your fingers in your eyes, nose or mouth.
There is no such thing as guaranteed safety inside a torndao. Tornadoes have the ability to level and blow away almost any house and its occupants! Most tornadoes can be survived by using these helpful safety tips.
Prevention and practice before the storm:
At home, have a family tornado plan in place, based on the kind of dwelling you live in and the safety tips below. Know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds, and practice a family tornado drill at least once a year. Have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster. Flying debris is the greatest danger in tornadoes; store protective coverings(mattresses, sleeping bags, thick blankets, etc.) in or next to your shelter space. When a tornado watch is issued turn on local TV or radio and stay alert for warnings.
Know the signs of a torndao:
- Strong, persistant rotation in the cloud base
- Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base-sometimes tornadoes have no funnel!
- Hail or heavy rain followed by either dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift
- Loud continuous roar or rumble, which doesn't fade in a few seconds like thunder
What to do:
In a house with a basement- Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench). Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above and do not go under them; they may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you.
In a house with no basement-Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection.
In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper-Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building -- away from glass and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay off the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost.
In a mobile home- Get out! Even if your home is tied down, it is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building. Go to one of those shelters, or to a nearby permanent structure, using your tornado evacuation plan. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes, and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it.
In a car or truck-There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones. If the tornado is visible, far away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or underground if possible. If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, etc. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway,leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.
