Flood fails to 'wash out' ED's ability to communicate.

When disaster strikes, communication often can be one of the first victims. However, during the recent floods in Iowa the communications in the ED at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA, continued working flawlessly due to system redundancies and advanced planning. The strategies included: a wireless documentation system that was not dependent on being in a specific room or location; phones using a Voice over Internet Protocol, which enabled them to be plugged into any jack in the building; a statewide radio system that enabled the staff to speak to other hospitals about potential patient transfers.