Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. EMERGENCY/DISASTER PLAN PURPOSE: To have an operational process to organize and mobilize personnel adequate to secure resources needed to meet patient needs in the event of a disaster or crisis. The process includes a system to identify alternative methods for contacting personnel and mobilizing resources to meet critical needs. The process includes alternative methods, resources, and travel options for the provision of care/service and safety of personnel and identified time frames for initiation of the plan. The emergency/disaster plan provides an orderly procedure to be implemented in an emergency to assure that the health care needs of patients continue to be met. All employees shall be oriented to the plan and their responsibilities in carrying out the plan. Possible emergency or risk factors will be identified for each patient and appropriate emergency plans discussed with the patient and/or the responsible person at the time of admission as indicated. The name and telephone number of an emergency contact will be obtained. When our Agency is unable to continue services to special needs patients registered, that patient’s record must contain documentation of the efforts made by our home health agency to comply with our emergency management plan. Documentation includes, but is not limited to, contacts made to the patient’s caregivers, if applicable; contacts made to the assisted living facility and adult family care home, if applicable; and contacts made to local emergency operation centers to obtain assistance in reaching patients and contacts made to other agencies which may be able to provide temporary services. Our home health agency will collect registration information for special needs patients who will need continuing care or services during a disaster or emergency. This registration information shall be submitted, when collected, to the county Emergency Management office, or on a periodic basis as determined by the home health agency’s county Emergency Management office. Our home health agency staff shall educate patients registered with the special needs registry that special needs shelters are an option of last resort and that services may not be equal to what they have received in their homes. Our community is vulnerable to a wide range of emergencies, including natural, technological, and man-made disasters, all of which threaten the life, health and safety of its people, damage and destroy property; disrupt services and everyday business and recreational activities; and impede economic growth and development. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the State * s growth and population, especially the growth in the elderly population, in the number of seasonal vacationers, and in the number of persons of special needs. State policy for responding to disasters is to support local emergency response efforts: 1. To reduce the vulnerability of the people and the property of this State to damage, injury, and loss of life and property; 2. To prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care and treatment of threatened or affected persons; 3. To provide for the rapid and orderly rehabilitations of persons, and for the restoration of services and properties; 4. To provide for the coordination of activities relating to emergency preparedness with public and private Agencies in the community. A comprehensive emergency plan is prepared, reviewed annually, and revised as necessary. Emergency: Any occurrence, or threat thereof which results or may result in substantial injury or Home Health Agency Policies A-66