With the availability of newer technologies, more efficient forms of communication with students, faculty and staff in the event of an emergency are available and have been implemented for Weill Cornell Medical College. According to Steve Cohen, associate provost and executive vice dean for finance and administration, "We needed a system that would allow us to use a variety of communication channels such as cell phones, text messaging and e-mail to contact our faculty, students and staff any time the need arose and from any location. We also needed a product that was flexible to accommodate our changing requirements."
After a careful review of the available options, MessageOne AlertFind was chosen as the new WCMC Emergency Notification System (ENS). A representative from each department and administrative unit was selected and trained on how to keep information current. Leaders from each department and administrative unit were added to the system, consisting of over 300 individuals. All WCMC students were also added to the system.
Now, through the ENS, the WCMC Incident Commander and Emergency Operations Team has 24/7 contact capability to reach each department and all students in an emergency. The department representatives, including student leadership, will be in direct contact with the Emergency Operations Team to work out a disaster recovery strategy for their department and all affected students, faculty and staff. The system is also linked to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center so that the Medical College and Hospital emergency operations can be coordinated.
The Emergency Notification System does not take away each department's ability to notify its members as appropriate. Rather, departments have been charged with establishing their own "employee notification trees" to ensure the emergency information reaches those who are not in the ENS.
More information about the system is available by going to emergency.med.cornell.edu and clicking on the link "Emergency Notification System Information." If you have any questions how you will be notified in an emergency, please contact your department administrator.