When an F-3 tornado ripped through Americus, Georgia on March 1, 2007, it nearly wiped out the town's healthcare system. The storm filled the Sumter Regional Hospital's rooms with broken glass, dirt and debris, flooded the operating rooms and forced the evacuation of all 70 patients.

Disaster recovery is currently underway, but unfortunately not fast enough for the community of 50,000 people who rely on Sumter Regional Hospital for healthcare. Today, the hospital is able to offer limited oncology services and has opened a make-shift emergency room in a blue and white tent across the street from the battered building that was the hospital before a tornado touched down in this South Georgia town.

Sumter Regional's temporary emergency room treats about 40 patients a day, thanks to hard work from the staff, the community and loyal partners.
When Philips learned that Sumter had lost all of their imaging equipment, they quickly responded to provide disaster relief and donate diagnostic and monitoring equipment. They worked with the hospital staff to locate prefabricated buildings to swiftly help house all the donated equipment, which includes a mobile CT scanner, an ultrasound unit, a mobile c-arm, and patient monitors. The mobile CT scanner helped the hospital image area residents injured by the tornado, while the additional diagnostic and monitoring equipment assisted the displaced hospital to deliver care in the storm's aftermath. Philips team members are onsite working with the hospital staff to provide training on the new equipment.

More Industry Headlines