Creating an Emergency Preparedness Plan in the Wake of Increased Storms
Author: Maxwell Healthcare Associates Posted: September 14, 2021
Recent news reports indicate that four nursing home patients are deceased and 14 are hospitalized after they were evacuated to another facility in preparation for Hurricane Ida in Independence, LA. The Louisiana Department of Health is now addressing concerns of unsafe conditions at the site residents were evacuated to days before the storm hit. Reports of patients that were crowded into rooms, water that entered the facility, and generator issues as the storm made landfall remain deep concerns for the health department.
Stories like these are heartbreaking. However, we believe strongly that they’re preventable. As increased temperatures and storms arise every year, your agency should be prepared for a possible disaster at your doorsteps. Your agency needs measures in place to protect your staff and the patients you serve. Thankfully, MHA has an emergency preparedness plan ready to be tailored to your agency’s needs. MHA’s solution to emergency preparedness
MHA will provide remote training and tools to prepare for a future crisis. The training provided is personalized to your agency amid the unique challenges encountered through challenges that impact your agency. MHA and our extended training and tools cover an expansive list of concerns, including but not limited to:
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Procedures to ensure your patients receive the care and attention they need as they shelter in place
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Evaluate vulnerabilities to handle any disruptions to your services
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Ensure your paper plan matches information found in your EMR
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Assess your overall preparedness for future disasters
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Identify tasks that are required to mitigate adverse effects on supply concerns
Emergency Preparedness Rule
CMS published the Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers Final Rule. The rule was effective on November 16, 2019 and health care providers were required to implement this rule within one year after the effective date. The purpose of the rule is to establish national emergency preparedness requirements to ensure agencies are prepared for both natural and man-made disasters.
Your agency should be prepared for the next tragedy that arrives suddenly. That’s why you should have a thorough plan to prepare for dire events in the future.