With the lessons learned from the devastating storm experience, Sisters of Mercy Health Systems and its design and construction teams planned a new facility that would replace St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo., which was destroyed by a tornado in 2011, according to an article on the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo newsletter.

One new technology in the Mercy Joplin facility is a distributed antenna system (DAS) that will be the backbone for several important communication systems for the hospital.  Local cell phone providers will use the DAS to distribute their systems though ceiling mounted antennas, the article said. 

Local area first responders will also use the DAS antennas to communicate with each other in the facility utilizing radio gear built into their helmets. 

Another technology is voice evacuation notification in the building and the parking areas.  There are various “blue phones” available in the parking areas for direct contact with security for anyone needing assistance in an emergency.  These phones contain the speakers that can broadcast evacuation notification to the parking areas at the time of an immediate emergency.

Read the article.