FCC Visits Ben Taub General Hospital to Gain Crisis Communication Insight

HOUSTON (June 15, 2009) - The U.S. Federal Communication Commission visited Ben Taub General Hospital as part of a multi-state effort to learn about communication needs from various first responders regarding community disasters.

Ben Taub was the only hospital stop for the FCC team of Shawn Lapinski, emergency operations, Todd Mitchell, public outreach and Web master and Robert Kenny, media relations and health care outreach. The team was escorted by Francisco Sanchez Jr., liaison to Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and public information officer for Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox, chief of staff, and Pete Dancy, associate administrator, Ben Taub Hospital, toured the visitors and shared several aspects of the hospital's emergency response efforts. Additionally, the team received insight into the communication needs for the Harris County Hospital District with its multiple locations across Harris County.

Touring what was incident command center at Ben Taub General Hospital during Hurricane Ike are, left to right, Todd Mitchell, public outreach and Web master; Robert Kenny, media relations and health care outreach; Shawn Lapinski, emergency operations; Francisco Sanchez Jr., liaison to Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and public information officer for Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Pete Dancy, associate administrator, Ben Taub General Hospital; and Dr. Ken Mattox, chief of staff, Ben Taub General Hospital.