The COVID-19 pandemic and multiple natural and man-made disasters over the past few years has required hospitals to activate their emergency preparedness plan. In anticipation of patient injury because of such disasters, CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – revised the Emergency Preparedness Conditions of Participation for hospitals in 2020.

This webinar will cover CMS regulations for a facility regarding emergency preparedness with the recent updates to include emerging infectious diseases. All covered facilities are required to have a written program to address the various natural and man-made emergencies that may impact delivery of care and patient safety. Training of staff and testing of the program must be done. This program will cover the required elements for compliance with CMS regulations, including mandatory testing and training of all personnel. There will also be a brief discussion of reference and resources from The Joint Commission.

Objectives

At the conclusion of the webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Identify the 3 key essentials for emergency preparedness
• Recall the 4 core elements of an emergency preparedness program
• Recall key responsibilities of a facility when the emergency preparedness plan is activated.
• Describe when and the extent of an exemption to mandatory testing could occur.

Detailed Program Outline

Identification of State Operations Manual

• Introduction
• Overview of Appendix Z
• Abbreviations used by CMS

Core Elements

• Emergency plan – basics and requirements
• Risk Assessments
• Policies and procedures needed
• Items for plan development
• Patient populations
• Continuity of operations
• Cooperation and collaboration with local, tribal, regional, State and Federal officials
• Power sources
• Evacuations or Shelter in Place
• Alternate care sites
• Communications Plan
• Training and Testing
• When an exemption to testing may apply
• Emergency and standby power systems
• Integrated Healthcare Systems

Joint Commission standards

• Emergency management Standard and elements of performance
• Active shooter

Resources and Links

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• CEO
• Compliance Officer
• Chief Medical Officer
• Chief Nursing Officer
• Nurse Education
• Nurse Directors/Supervisors
• Risk Managers
• Compliance officer
• Patient Safety Officers
• Quality Improvement staff
• Hospital Legal Counsel
• QAPI Director
• Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Officer
• Safety/Security Officers