Hospitals are required to have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) detailing plans for responding and recovering from hazards. The plan must include 6 critical elements within The Joint Commission’s Emergency Management Standards:
The Emergency Management Program (EMP) implements the mission, vision, goals and objectives of the organization as related to Emergency Management. The EMP utilizes organized analysis, planning, decision making and assignment of available resources to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all-hazards. (Emergency Management Principals and Practices for Healthcare Systems, Department of Veterans Affairs, 2006).
This presentation describes the role of an Emergency Management Coordinator and lists their primary responsibilities. The session describes the components of an Emergency Management Program (EMP) and prepares the reader to evaluate an Emergency Operations Plan utilizing the CHA EMP Checklist tool.
There is no standard format for an emergency management program (emergency operations plans are just one component of an overall program). This tool provides guidance for hospitals when developing an emergency management program, including activities related to mitigation, response, and recovery. Download CHA’s Hospital Emergency Management Program Checklist
This session provides an overview of how hospitals can include clinics in their emergency operations plans, exercises, and communications to meet standards and requirements, as well as strengthen their overall emergency response capabilities.
The number and magnitude of natural disasters affecting Missouri in 2011 demonstrated the importance of hospital planning and preparedness. Hospitals throughout Missouri activated their emergency operations plans and the hospital command centers because of the 2011 disasters. And, although the financial damage for all three events was substantial, the impact on the health care system was manageable.
Effective emergency management requires planning, cooperation, training and exercising with the entire community. Collaboration should start at the planning phase and continue throughout the entire Emergency Management Program development and implementation.
First implemented in 2004, Cal OES’ annual state-level exercise series has become the most comprehensive preparedness exercise program in the country. The annual exercise series is designed to assess emergency operations plans, policies, and procedures for all-hazards/catastrophic incidents at the local, regional, state, and federal levels.
Consistent with the blanket waiver request submitted by the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Federal Communication Commission has adopted an order that permits the use of HAM radios during hospital disaster drills.
Active shooter events in a health care setting present unique challenges: a potentially large vulnerable patient population, hazardous materials (including infectious disease), locked units, special challenges (such as weapons and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines (these machines contain large magnets which can cause issues with firearms, or remove it from the hands of law enforcement), as well as caregivers who can respond to treat victims.