About Emergency Preparedness
It’s time to change the way California thinks about disaster response. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that hospitals can quickly mobilize to provide flexible approaches to patient care during a disaster. The state must draw upon these lessons to prepare differently so the next crisis will be less severe. Given California’s size and complexity, the health care disaster response system of the future must be nimble enough to respond to any catastrophe. View more information on hospital disaster preparedness.
Disaster Preparedness: A Guide for Chronic Dialysis Facilities
Following the Loma Prieta earthquake, patients’ access to care was severely impacted by temporary closure of several dialysis facilities. These closures demonstrated an obvious need for additional disaster preparedness for dialysis facilities.
Integrating the Needs of Individuals with Access and Functional Needs into Hospital Emergency Planning
2018 Disaster Conference
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, along with CalOES, presented this toolkit sharing techniques and resources for integrating Access and Functional Needs (AFNs) into hospital disaster planning.
Emergency Planning and Response for Dialysis and Opioid Treatment Programs
Hospitals and health care facilities operating dialysis or opioid treatment programs can learn about emergency preparedness to assist before, during, and after a critical event.
Access & Functional Needs (AFN)
In 2008, California established the Office of Access and Functional Needs (OAFN) within the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. This collection of CalOES online resources identify the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access or functional needs before, during, and after disasters and to integrate them into the State’s emergency management systems.
Access and Functional Needs: Hospital Disaster Guidebook
Shared by Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, this reference aims to assist hospital emergency managers prepare, plan and conduct exercises and training with local Access and Functional Needs (AFN) communities. Funded through a grant from the California Community Foundation, the tool was developed for use by emergency management professionals in the health care industry.
Preparing Hospitals for Chemical Emergencies
2022 Disaster Conference
Chemical emergencies can happen at any time at health care facilities. The impact may not only be to the facility, but to patients, staff, and the surrounding community. To assist hospitals, ASPR/TRACIE has developed a “Chemical Emergency Considerations for Health Care Facilities” resource to assist in preparing and responding to chemical emergencies.
Hospital Guidebook for Access and Functional Needs in a Disaster
2022 Disaster Conference
The growing population of older adults in the United States with complex medical conditions are typically the most severely impacted by large-scale weather and climate disasters. A health care systems’ ability to leverage technology and optimize limited resources during an emergency is universal. Join us to learn how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) established the Vulnerable Patient Care, Access, and Response in Emergencies (VP CARE) Program to provide standardized data tools and guidance to assist medical facilities with conducting outreach and care coordination to vulnerable Veteran populations during major emergencies
Outreach to Vulnerable Patients in Emergencies
2023 Disaster Conference
The growing population of older adults in the United States with complex medical conditions are typically the most severely impacted by large-scale weather and climate disasters. A health care systems’ ability to leverage technology and optimize limited resources during an emergency is universal. Join us to learn how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) established the Vulnerable Patient Care, Access, and Response in Emergencies (VP CARE) Program to provide standardized data tools and guidance to assist medical facilities with conducting outreach and care coordination to vulnerable Veteran populations during major emergencies
Managing Pediatric Winter Viral Surges
2023 Disaster Conference
The Children’s Hospital of Orange County reviewed strategies for managing the pediatric winter viral surge, including implementing surge plans and decompression measures, to optimize patient flow. This presentation addresses best practices and lessons learned with the goal of equipping hospitals to be prepared to meet the inevitable pediatric winter viral surge.
Vulnerable Populations: Overview
Hospitals play a critical role in safeguarding the health and safety of all individuals during disaster events, particularly those from vulnerable populations. These groups—such as the elderly, children, individuals with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and non-English speakers—often face unique challenges during crises, making tailored disaster planning essential.