An explosion south of Dallas in 2004 spurred Parkland Memorial Hospital system to develop a mass casualty decontamination team, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.
Today, the decon room and team at the new 1.7 million-square-foot, 862-bed Parkland Memorial Hospital exceeds state and Joint Commission requirements.
Located near the hospital’s emergency department (ED), but not within it, the decon room is a space in which uas many as 10 patients can have their clothes removed and be thoroughly scrubbed with soap and water.
Parkland also has an exterior decontamination unit complete with privacy curtains and running water where patients can be washed.