Tift Regional Health System, which includes Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton and Cook Medical Center in Adel, went into disaster alert on Tuesday, Oct. 9 in order to prepare for Hurricane Michael and a possible influx of patients during the storm cycle.
 
Here is the latest:
 
Incident command centers have been activated at TRMC in Tifton and CMC in Adel.

Both command centers have ongoing contact with the National Weather Service.   TRHS also has a communication link with the Georgia Healthcare Alliance 911 service, a web-based platform which connects Georgia's hospitals and other local and state agencies with communication, information and tools to assist in disaster preparedness and mutual aid planning.

Currently, no requests have been made to TRMC or CMC to accept any transfer patients from other hospital facilities.

TRMC and CMC will house essential personnel on the night of Wednesday, Oct. 10 to ensure proper staffing at its hospitals.

TRHS Food Services and Supply Chain Services have increased inventory levels to avoid any supply shortages during the storm and its aftermath.

Both hospitals have tested back-up generators in anticipation of power outages.
 
All elective surgical procedures at the hospitals have been suspended for Wednesday, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 11.  Emergency procedures will still be performed.

Both hospitals will discharge as many as patients as possible on Tuesday, Oct. 9.  For patients remaining in the hospital, staff members will activate emergency protocols to keep these patients safe during the storm.
 
Affinity ExpressCare, TRMC’s convenient care clinic, will be open on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.   It will then be closed until Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9:00 a.m., dependent on any storm damage, power outages, blocked roads or other related issues.

Cook Family Wellness Center’s Convenient Care Clinic in Adel will relocate to Cook Medical Center (in the old ER area) on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and will reopen at its regular location on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8:00 a.m., dependent on any storm damage, power outages, blocked roads or other related issues.

The TRMC Dialysis Center, TRMC Anita Stewart Oncology Center, Hospice of Tift Area and all other TRHS physician practices, clinics and outpatient centers will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and will reopen on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9:00 a.m., dependent on any storm damage, power outages, blocked roads or other related issues.  The TRMC Emergency Center will always be open.