Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Facilities

When disaster strikes, healthcare facilities and their staff play an essential role in the response efforts. It is therefore vital to address emergency preparedness before help is needed. One only has to look at the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to see the devastating result of not being prepared.1 Natural or human-made disasters, epidemics, terrorist attacks, and other public health emergencies all create a desperate surge in demand for healthcare. Let’s take a look at how your healthcare facility can better prepare for disasters.

Natural Disasters are on the Rise

If you feel like the weather is getting more destructive, it’s not just your imagination. Last year’s hurricane season was the costliest in U.S. history. Americans witnessed more than $200 billion worth of damage from the start of June until the end of November.2 Add in wildfires in the west, torrential rainfall in the east, and record-breaking temperatures across the country, and it’s easy to see why disaster preparedness is not just a good idea, it’s an absolute necessity.

If You Fail to Plan, You’re Planning to Fail

Hospitals typically have general emergency management plans in place but may not have a program that specifically prepares staff for a large-scale incident or a smaller hazardous materials situation, such as an industrial accident. To adequately provide care and ensure patient and staff safety during a public health emergency or natural disaster, the planning process should address all phases3 of a crisis:

  • Facility Risk Assessment – This multidisciplinary process should include representatives from all services involved in an emergency situation including infection control, infectious disease, and safety staff.
  • Hazard Vulnerability Analysis – The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations4 requires member hospitals to complete an annual Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) to provide a foundation for emergency planning efforts.
  • Training – Everyone working at a healthcare facility needs to be adequately trained to react to disaster situations. Luckily, U.S. government agencies like the CDC, FDA, and FEMA, offer valuable resources for emergency management preparedness and response, including the Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Center (PERLC).5
  • Command and Coordination – Emergency situations are typically chaotic and confusing, but that doesn’t mean the response should match. Individual roles and responsibilities during the disaster should be clearly defined. The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) is a respected emergency management system that helps healthcare facilities devise management structure, clear reporting channels, and other key parts of an effective emergency plan.6
  • Evacuation – When conditions are severe, and force evacuation of the facility’s patients and staff, the safety of patients and the possibility of continuing their care rely entirely on a facility’s preparedness. Security and communication are vital in a successful evacuation. Moving a high quantity of people out of a facility can cause panic, so keeping patients and staff safe is difficult but necessary. Facilities can subdue widespread fear in the outside world with effective communication to media outlets.7

Healthcare Facilities Cannot Respond Effectively Without the Right Supplies on Hand

A comprehensive line of emergency equipment and supplies is essential for disaster preparedness. Products to consider include:

Learn more at https://www.alimed.com/emergency-preparedness/.

References

  1. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/healthcare/puerto-rico-s-hospitals-continue-to-struggle-without-power-and-fuel-thousands-dialysis
  2. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/11/2017-hurricane-season-most-expensive-us-history-spd/
  3. http://www.premiersafetyinstitute.org/safety-topics-az/emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness/
  4. https://www.jointcommission.org
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/phpr/perlc.htm
  6. http://hicscenter.org/SitePages/HomeNew.aspx
  7. http://www.premiersafetyinstitute.org/safety-topics-az/emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness/

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Latest

authenticity
Why Authentic Content Should Be at the Forefront of Your Company’s Marketing Strategy
March 24, 2023

Media today is the most powerful it’s ever been, and with the introduction of new channels to consume it daily, the consumer can become easily overwhelmed with a plethora of choices. How does your channel stand out? Authentic media might be the clickbait. With the likes of TikTok, YouTube, and streaming services like Spotify, […]

Read More
healthy living
Salata’s Secrets to Catering to a Diverse Customer Base
March 24, 2023

Salata, a salad-focused chain, has found a way to cater to a wide customer base despite the overwhelming number of options available. In a recent episode of The Main Course, Salata’s President, Michelle Bythewood, and VP of Franchise Development, Julie Davis, discuss how Salata offers customization while maintaining a visually-pleasing atmosphere. By catering to flavor […]

Read More
pre-authorization processes
Insurance Providers Should Prioritize Solutions for Streamlining Pre-Authorization Processes
March 24, 2023

Prior authorization wastes medical and insurance providers’ time and can result in poor patient outcomes. Changes are likely as the federal government reviews legislation. Melanie Musson, a health insurance expert with USInsuranceAgents.com, reminds providers, “Health insurance providers should focus on creating better pre-authorization processes to improve efficiency and patient outcome.” Prior authorization has been […]

Read More