Courses & Speaking Engagements: Maintaining Hospital Operations During Disasters
Synopsis: This course will outline the steps necessary to fortify the healthcare organization’s infrastructure, staff and support systems to continue providing healthcare services during “All Hazards” disasters.
Who should attend?
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Operating Officers
- Infection Control Officers
- Plant Engineers
- Directors of Environmental Services
- Directors of Biomedical Equipment Repair and Maintenance
- Healthcare Emergency Managers / Disaster Preparedness Coordinators
- Director, Healthcare Continuity of Service
- Risk Manager
- Directors of Medical Materials Management, Lead Medical Materials Purchasers
- Public Health Officers
Objectives: The attendees will become proficient as measured through exercises and workshops in the following areas:
- Pre-disaster contracting for critical infrastructure sustainability services
- Enhanced Infection Control procedures required during and after a disaster
- Supplier/prime vendor relationships during disasters
- Enlisting all community healthcare providers/practices and organizations
- Management of General, Hazardous, and Regulated Medical Waste (RMW)
Course Modules:
1. Maintenance of Environment of Care and Infection Control Standards During All Operational Conditions
- TJC standards
- Purpose/goal
- HAI – prevalence; fatalities; cost
- Potential compromise of EC or IC standards
- Liability
2. Facilities
- Emergency power – generators and fuel
- Emergency power – distribution in facility
- Potable water – back-up wells; bottled water; mobile water treatment
- Grey water systems – cleaning; toilet flushing; plumbing issues
- Wastewater – limited facilities; port-a-pots; septic/holding tanks; public systems
EXERCISE 1: Hospital groups “A” “B” and “C” will be given a scenario associated with the top 3 hazards (as prioritized using the HVA). The groups will list the facility infrastructure requirements that need to be addressed and list advantages and disadvantages of solutions.
1. Waste Management
- General wastes – regular pick-up; storage onsite; onsite treatment
- Hazardous wastes – segregation; secured (?); compatibility; “cradle to grave” management; documentation; Federal regulations
- RMW – segregation from general wastes; isolation from staff and patients; red bags; storage and accessibility; pick-up vs. temporary storage; state/local requirements
- Radiological wastes – facility license; sources; limited/absent during emergency operations
- Interim storage
- Pick-up of accumulated wastes after incident
- Roles of facility personnel – ES; techs; lab
EXERCISE 2: Using the facility and scenarios provided in Exercise 1, identify concerns/considerations regarding waste management and handling throughout the incident.
1. Facility Assessment During Response/Recovery
- Structural
- “Healthy” environment – wet; mold; interior water lines; pooling; status of HVAC; etc
- Responsible personnel
2. What Support Will Be Necessary?
- Use experience and exercises to compile data
- Inventory and compile types and numbers of personnel, supplies, and equipment necessary (use HVA scenarios)
- Identify internal capabilities – stockpiles; availability of local personnel, etc.
- Identify the “delta” – what must be obtained from external sources?
3. What Types of Support Agreements Do We Need?
- Mutual aid
- MOUs
- MOAs
- Contracts
4. Development, Maintenance, and Evaluation of Support Agreements
- Examples of specific language or objectives
- Scheduled reviews/revisions – annually; when structural, personnel, or procedural changes occur
- Inclusion in exercises – every two years; test capability and willingness to participate
EXERCISE 3: Hospital groups “A” “B” and “C” will develop two basic support agreements as assigned, based on the scenarios and facilities previously described. Include the commercial, non-governmental, and government organizations selected; the reasons why; and the type of agreements (with expectations) developed.