Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group

Recruits Alden to Sign with CHUG

Southwest Suburban Cluster Planned

OFPD joined CHUG (Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group) with the ambition of leading a movement in the Southwest Suburban area.  According to Krizik, the plan is to sign up hundreds of new members to join CHUG, a membership organization specializing in the evacuation of functional needs populations.

Following two presentations hosted by the Orland Fire Protection District and the Orland Park Police Department, respectively, Alden signed up.

“Throughout Chicagoland there are clusters of members who bear great planning benefits from CHUG because a strategy exists in the event of emergencies that require the displacement of healthcare patients,” said Krizik.  “We applaud Alden for its insight and community leadership in joining the CHUG network.  We can only hope to have others join us in this growing movement.”

CHUG’s premise is that comprehensive and collaborative strategies are essential to addressing the complex medical, psychological and independence needs of healthcare facility patients and residents who may be impacted by emergency or disaster situations that ultimately require planning for response or evacuation.  CHUG has been identifying and recruiting organizations and agencies to join its network for several years and are now focusing on the Southwest Suburban area of Chicagoland, with a strong assist from Orland Park.

Alden Estates of Orland Park, located at 16450 S. 97th Ave. in Orland Park, offers programs that address the needs of short-term therapy and rehabilitation patients, as well as long-term residents. 

“The ability to create an emergency operation plan is crucial to the overall preparedness of a facility,” said CHUG director of operations Bill Pretzer. “The knowledge helps identify the most important requirements during a hazard.”

Pretzer, a 29-year veteran of the Park Ridge Fire Department conducted the two Orland meetings. He currently serves as a Battalion Chief responsible for Emergency Response, Disaster Preparedness and Health and Safety for the Park Ridge Department.

Krizik said the OFPD will continue its efforts to recruit facilities to join CHUG, a non-profit organization that provides software service to monitor the capabilities of and the number of beds available at each facility to aid other organizations during a disaster. Each member pays a $500 initiation fee, followed by $150 a year membership fee.

“This is a mutual aid system of organizations that want to help,” said Pretzer, during a round-table discussion earlier this month in Orland Park.

If successful, CHUG will expand the network in the Southwest suburban area. Christ Hospital & Medical Center and LaGrange Memorial Hospital are already members.

“Imagine the strength and value in preparation if all these organizations are there for one another in the event of a disaster,” said Krizik.  “CHUG is the great conduit to all these organizations that need open beds to bring patients to when disaster strikes.”