CODE BROWN Emergency Codes are St. Michael’s Hospital’s organized response to situations that require immediate action. They involve many areas of the hospital working together, often after hours, to minimize the impact of an event.
Code Brown is a response to a flood or hazardous spill. The hospital has responded to many Code Browns in recent months as a result of aging plumbing infrastructure in some areas of the hospital and, in one case, human error during construction.
20 PLUMBING STACKS
(sets of pipes that move hot, cold and waste water through the hospital) are being replaced in the Donnelly Wing as part of the St. Michael’s 3.0 redevelopment project.
47 OUTDATED RADIATORS
are being replaced with radiant panels in the areas that are being renovated. Radiant panels are a more efficient and quieter method of heating.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS MATTERS:
On Dec. 2, 2015, at 4:48 p.m., a Code Brown was called on 5 Donnelly. A sixth-floor pipe was leaking.
A Perioperative Services staff member noticed that there was water leaking from the ceiling tile. By 5:02, the Code Brown was escalated to Stage Two. The Command Centre was activated and key personnel were assigned roles to ensure hospital operations continued and minimize impact to patients, visitors, staff and volunteers. When the Command Centre opened, the Code Brown was affecting:
MARCH 2016 | IN TOUCH | 4