Focus on Emergency Preparedness

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RISK MANAGEMENT TIPS AND RESOURCES FROM MEDICAL PROTECTIVE

American College of Emergency Physicians — EMS and Disaster  Preparedness

The American College of Emergency Physicians’ (ACEP’s) EMS and Disaster Preparedness webpage currently focuses on the effects of bombings and other mass casualty events. The page provides numerous links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) resources on physical injuries and trauma care. In addition, ACEP recognizes the long-term effect that these events can cause and offers links to mental health tools and resources.
http://www.acep.org/disaster/

American Health Information Management Association — Disaster Planning and Recovery Resources

In the aftermath of a disaster, healthcare providers and organizations often are faced with a multitude of issues related to medical records. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides excellent disaster planning and recovery resources to address these concerns. Reviewing these disaster planning resources and implementing appropriate safeguards will prove valuable for your practice or facility in the event of a disaster.
http://ahima.org/disaster/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Emergency Preparedness and Response

The CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage provides up-to-date information and emergency notifications through email alerts, social media, RSS feeds, and other web technologies.
Emergency preparedness and response information and resources are easily identified using the A–Z index or by searching specific hazards, such as natural disasters or recent outbreaks.
http://emergency.cdc.gov/

ECRI Institute — Emergency Management (November 2012)

This resource, available free of charge from ECRI Institute, focuses on the four phases of emergency
management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Although this resource is written
specifically for hospitals, the concepts and strategies provided for each of the four phases can be applied
in all emergency situations. Additionally, the appendix at the end of the document offers an easy-to-use
checklist for assessing The Joint Commission’s six critical emergency management areas.
https://www.ecri.org/Forms/Documents/Emergency_Preparedness.pdf

Occupational Safety & Health Administration — Emergency Preparedness and Response

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), part of the U.S. Department of Labor, provides
emergency preparedness and response tools and resources focused on employee safety. OSHA’s
Emergency Preparedness webpage offers employee training materials on a variety of topics in various
formats, including web training, factsheets, checklists, and posters — many of which are also available in
Spanish. Consider using OSHA’s training materials during staff meetings or “brown bag lunch sessions” to
prepare your team for emergencies.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness