Hospice and home health agencies that are part of a healthcare system consisting of multiple, separately certified healthcare facilities or provider numbers can elect to have a unified and integrated Emergency Preparedness program. Expert speaker Kathy Ahearn and the Hospice & Home Care Webinar Network teamed up to develop Emergency Preparedness: How to Create an Effective, Integrated & Communicated Plan & Agency Program. Below is a sample from the webinar on one aspect of emergency preparedness planning and considerations.

The unified and integrated Emergency Preparedness Program must:

• Demonstrate that each separately certified facility within the system actively participated in the development of the unified and integrated Emergency Preparedness Program.
• Be developed and maintained in a manner that considers each separately certified facility’s unique circumstances, patient populations, and services offered.
• Demonstrate that each separately certified facility is capable of actively using the unified and integrated Emergency Preparedness Program and follows the program.
• Include a unified and integrated emergency plan that meets all requirements. The unified and integrated emergency plan must also be based on and include a documented community–based risk assessment, utilizing an all-hazards approach and a documented individual facility-based risk assessment for each separately certified facility within the health system, utilizing an all-hazards approach.
• Include integrated policies and procedures that meet the requirements set forth including a coordinated communication plan and training and testing programs.

Kathy's webinar reviews the requirements that must be met for an integrated Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP), in accordance with the 418.113(e) & 484.102 Integrated Healthcare Systems CoPs. To learn more about this webinar please contact us at support@eewebinarnetwork.com or call us at (406) 442-2585.