Phila. Hospitals Making Plans For Staff Who Can't Go Home During Papal Visit
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia area hospitals are firming up their game plans for the papal weekend, especially in terms of how to take care of staff that can't go home.
Hahnemann University Hospital has 750 people who will not be going home the weekend of the papal visit and contingency plans are in the works to make sure they have places to sleep and things to do in their off hours.
Hahnemann's Tom Runkle says recreation is being taken very seriously.
"During their down time, we have pool tables, ping-pong tables, interactive video games, movies, big screen TV for watching the Eagles game on Sunday."
Runkle says the hospital has never gone to this extent to provide entertainment to staff before, because there isn't enough lead time before a snow storm or a hurricane.
"However, as part of this planning process, we do have some equipment that we're bringing in, specifically the Wii interactive game, that was actually donated and we're going to keep on site."
But he says now, some of these items will remain in place for those special events when staff has to hunker down and ride out the storm.
Runkle is hoping the experience also builds camaraderie among the hospital crew.