UPMC Hamot Prepared In Treating Victims From I-90 Accident - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

UPMC Hamot Prepared In Treating Victims From I-90 Accident

Police Thursday night at still investigating an early morning bus accident along I-90 in McKean Township that sent nearly a dozen people to the hospital and injured nearly 20 more.

At least 10 of victims from the accident were rushed to the emergency room at UPMC Hamot. Medical Director of the Emergency Department Dr. Fred Mirarchi tells us they surged up staff in the emergency room, even called for a Code Triage, preparing for a mass of patients with possible critical illnesses. Fortunately, many of those patients were not critically ill.

Dr. Mirarchi says his staff prepares for traumas throughout the year, but says the best training is the actual experience.

"We're the only trauma center in area, so we have to be good," said Dr. Mirarchi. "We have to be ready to actually handle these kind of stresses and situations."

Dr. Mirarchi says the staff handled the patients from the accident very timely, while at the same time not disrupting the normal operations of the emergency room.