Summary: Healthcare facilities are the frontline during a national disaster, and having a disaster preparedness plan should be top of mind at all times. Learn the importance of emergency preparedness planning for healthcare facilities and the steps to ensure your facility’s disaster plan is the right one in this article. 
Healthcare facilities are vulnerable to extensive damage due to extreme weather conditions. Disruption of healthcare operations can adversely impact the community’s well-being and economic recovery. Disaster planning is essential for all organizations, but it’s especially important for healthcare facilities. In both inpatient facilities, such as hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, and outpatient facilities, such as medical offices and clinics, steps must be taken to mitigate disasters' serious risks.
- Mold, bacteria and other contaminants in damaged buildings can threaten the health of vulnerable patients
- Power outages and mechanical failure can disrupt life-saving equipment
- Moving patients can put them at an increased threat of additional issues
- Downtime and disruptions can delay essential treatments and procedures, putting patients at risk
Understanding basic risk management strategies, from building design to having an emergency response plan, will help your healthcare facility to be prepared for potential disasters.
Build with Resilience in Mind by Having a Disaster Preparedness Plan
Disaster resilience starts with a building’s design. A well-designed building can help protect the people inside from damage caused by natural disasters. The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns that natural disasters are increasing in terms of both number and cost and that climate change is making extreme disasters more frequent. In 2019, the U.S. experienced 14 separate billion-dollar disasters, including inland floods, severe storms, tropical cyclones and wildfires.
Worsening disasters are a cause for concern for everyone, but healthcare facilities must be especially vigilant about meeting high building codes and standards, including:
Disaster Management Plan for Healthcare Facilities
Know the Disasters Most Likely to Strike Your Location
Where the health care facility is located will have a significant impact on the types of disasters that are seen. However, disasters, natural and man-made, are possible anywhere.
- Flooding: Flooding can occur in both coastal and inland areas. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flooding is the most common hazard in the United States. When designing a healthcare facility, the location and elevation can have a significant impact on flood risk.
- Wind: High-wind events include hurricanes, tornadoes, derechos and other severe storms. FEMA stresses the importance of building hospitals to be wind-resistant, with special attention to roof design.
- Storms: Storms may include wind and flood dangers simultaneously. FEMA states that designers in areas with high winds, including coastal areas, should pay careful attention to the roof-to-foundation load path and ensure that connections can withstand simultaneous wind and flood forces.
- Fire: Fires can include building fires and wildfires. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Health Care Facilities Code, NFPA 99, establishes criteria to minimize fire, explosion and electricity fires.
- Earthquakes: Earthquakes are most common in high-seismic areas such as the “Ring of Fire.” However, earthquakes can occur in other locations as well. In California, where earthquakes are common, in 2018, 6% of hospital buildings had an SPC-1 rating, indicating a significant chance of collapse.
Create a Backup Power Plan
A power outage at a healthcare facility can be a deadly disaster. Many patients depend on life-saving equipment, while HVAC systems protect vulnerable patients from inhospitable conditions. If the power goes out, people can die.
- To keep the power on no matter what, healthcare facilities need a redundant power plan that includes backup power sources for worst-case scenarios.
- Backup power systems must be maintained to ensure that they are ready whenever a disaster might strike
- Run emergency power tests to check that all backup systems are working correctly
- If running generators, ensure you have enough fuel supply to last for at least 96 hours
Write an Emergency Preparedness Plan
A disaster can create many issues for healthcare facilities. When creating an
emergency response plan, consider the following questions:
- How will the facility deal with a potential surge in patients related to the disaster?
- Which essential services must be prioritized?
- What measures will be taken to ensure patient safety?
- How long will the supply of essential items and medicines last?
- How will you communicate with employees, patients’ families and other stakeholders?
- Does the facility have a reliable backup power source?
- How will you ensure hygiene during a disaster, including safe water and waste disposal?
- How will the evacuation of patients proceed if it is deemed necessary?
- How will the recovery process proceed, including assessment of damage and repairs?
An emergency response plan can ensure that a healthcare facility is prepared to meet these and other issues.
Continuously Assess and Improve Your Readiness
Disaster preparedness is not a ‘one and done’ effort. It requires ongoing attention – every week, month and year. This is particularly important for healthcare facilities because so many lives are at stake.
- Assemble a disaster response team
- Analyze and discuss the risks every month and assess the impact of recent changes – new patients, new conditions, new employees and new equipment, for example
- Create an emergency response plan
- Train your team
- Practice the plan
- Review and update the plan frequently
Loss Control Resources from AmTrust Financial
AmTrust's
Loss Control Department provides a variety of
commercial property safety resources designed to keep your business, property and employees safe. We have the expertise and the tools to identify the common hazards facing your operation and can help you decrease risk.
Contact our team for more information about our loss control services and more.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not legal or business advice. Neither AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates represents or warrants that the information contained herein is appropriate or suitable for any specific business or legal purpose. Readers seeking resolution of specific questions should consult their business and/or legal advisors. Coverages may vary by location. Contact your local RSM for more information.