WASHINGTON -
Washington Hospital Center
is developing an emergency department that converts quickly to terrorist-ready mode as needed. The full-service ER One is a prototype terrorism response unit that includes design specifications for a 21
st century facility. The design plan, backed by $2.2 million in federal funding, could be finished in six to nine months, with model completion in 18 months. Security experts join physicians and paramedics from hospitals nationwide on the design team.