Hurricane Preparedness for Long-Term-Healthcare Facilities
Plan & Take Action
- Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected.
- How will you find family members for your residents?
- What will you do if water, gas, electricity, or phone services are shut off?
Risk Analysis
Gather information
- If the decision is made to shelter-in place (SIP) and not evacuate, inform the local emergency management office of that decision. Take into consideration the amount of food, water, and other necessary items needed for staff and residents, for the duration of the emergency event.
- Review the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines to allow for enough time to pack and inform resident’s family or emergency contact if an evacuation is imminent.
- Follow instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!
- Put together a basic supply kit for each resident including:
- Emergency contact information for family members
- Medications and a list of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
- Nutritional needs (diabetic, renal, or other)
- Pertinent information that others may need to know (patient health status – Alzheimer’s or other) being mindful of HIPPA requirements
- Keep a list of contact information for reference.
- Healthcare Facility Staff
- Emergency Management Offices
- Local Law Enforcement
- Local Public Safety Fire/Rescue/EMS
- State, County, and City/Town Government
- Regional Healthcare Coalition
- Local Hospitals
- Local Utilities
- Local American Red Cross
- Local TV and Radio Stations for information
- Follow guidelines to guard your residents’ health during and after the storm.
- Administration on Aging: Resources for the Aging Services Network and Other Professionals
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Health Care Provider Guidance
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Administration for Children & Families
0 Comments
Submit a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Related Articles: CMS Rules for Healthcare Providers
Goldilocks Would Love Incident Command
Incident Command structure should always be “just right” for the incident. It’s a modular system, not all-or-nothing!
Annual Review of Emergency Preparedness Plan
by Rick Christ Current CMS Emergency Preparedness Conditions of Participation require an annual review of your emergency preparedness plan. Under the proposed rule, the plan “must be evaluated and updated at least every 2 years.” Not in the rule, but in...
Why We Support More Detailed Exercise Standards
by Rick Christ Currently, almost every provider type is required to participate in two exercises per year. One “should be” a “community full-scale exercise” while the other can be a tabletop. The original version of the current exercise standards was...
Do the Proposed Changes to Training Make Sense?
by Rick Christ Currently, the typical CMS regulation says this about the training requirement: The training and testing program must be reviewed and updated at least annually. (1) Training program. The hospital must do all of the following:(i) Initial...
Documentation of Cooperation and Collaboration
What You Need to Know About the Proposed Rule Changes to CMS
by Rick Christ Barely ten months into the enforcement period of the Emergency Preparedness Conditions of Participation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing some rule changes that would “reform Medicare regulations that are...
CMS Compliance Products & Services
[/et_pb_shop]
[/et_pb_shop]
[/et_pb_shop]
Our Newsletter
Remember, we will NEVER share your email address or SPAM you.
You may unsubscribe at any time.
Website design & development by Carbon Six Digital Marketing Agency
We'd Love to Hear Your Comments