involves extensive time and assets, but helpful resources are widely available. Government agencies are a good place to start. The CMS website referenced earlier includes templates, checklists, and other tools to assist facilities in planning for emergencies.8 State and local emergency management agencies can also help with emergency planning. Like CMS, local agencies may have templates for emergency planning and response. In addition, healthcare facilities may be able to participate in local emergency planning agency drills free of charge. These are invaluable opportunities to get firsthand experience in emergency response. Local government agencies may also be able to provide access to government grants and funding for emergency planning and response. According to HD Supply’s Wicker, now is the time to act. “Awareness has gone up because of last year’s storms,” he explains. “Government aid and grants typically flow for a year after events like these.” He recommends contacting local departments of health and other agencies to inquire about these resources. Providers can find emergency management agency listings on the FEMA website at: https://www.fema. gov/emergency-management-agencies. Ultimately, a healthcare facility’s best partners for emergency planning and response may be its suppliers. While suppliers obviously sell products and services that are vital to emergency preparation, their offerings and expertise often go far beyond a product catalog.
“We work with dietitians who can help educate facilities in terms of their emergency food needs,” explains Easy Meal’s Bentley. “We also provide presentations and webinars to help with emergency planning.” HD Supply goes even further by employing product consultants like Wicker, whose primary job is to “help customers when they have questions about emergency planning, speak to communities, and provide education at meetings for healthcare professionals.” And a supplier may be invaluable not only in planning, but also during an emergency itself. For instance, in addition to providing medical equipment, Sizewise plays a central role in coordinating mass evacuations when a disaster strikes. “During the recent Northern California wildfires, we assisted a number of LTC facilities in evacuating residents to other shelters,” says Sizewise’s Baron. His team members go into heightened standby mode when such emergencies threaten, and they move resources from other locations to be at the ready for facilities that need help. As healthcare providers open more facilities and natural and human-influenced disasters continue to proliferate, emergency planning should be of utmost importance. Providers shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to government agencies, suppliers, and other sources that can help them prepare for the unexpected. HD Supply’s Wicker sums it up: “Don’t say it won’t happen to me or can’t happen here.”
REFERENCES 1. New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/us/nursing-home-deaths-florida.html. 2. McKnight’s Senior Living News: https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/news/florida-governorgives-assisted-living-communities-60-days-to-get-generators/article/689315/. 3. Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/16/2016-21404/medicare-andmedicaid-programs-emergency-preparedness-requirements-for-medicare-and-medicaid . 4. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollmentand-Certification/SurveyCertEmergPrep/Emergency-Prep-Rule.html. 5. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollmentand-Certification/SurveyCertEmergPrep/Core-EP-Rule-Elements.html. 6. McKnight’s Senior Living News: https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/news/florida-governorgives-assisted-living-communities-60-days-to-get-generators/article/689315/. 7. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration: http://ahca.myflorida.com/MCHQ/Emergency_ Activities/index.shtml. 8. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollmentand-Certification/SurveyCertEmergPrep/Emergency-Prep-Rule.html.
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Insight
Innovatix has many suppliers and agreements that can help member healthcare facilities prepare for and respond to emergencies. These include: American Healthcare Company: emergency blankets and pillows Diesel Direct: emergency fuel Easy Meal: emergency food FedEx: emergency shipping and deliveries Grainger: generators and equipment HD Supply: generators and equipment PODS: emergency storage space Sizewise: emergency hospital beds and medical supplies Sprint: emergency communications (go-phones) US Foods: emergency water Please note this list is not exhaustive, and other suppliers and agreements may be available to help with emergency planning and response. For more details, contact your Innovatix representative at 888.258.3273.