Join Rural Health Leaders virtually on June 10 and 11. Hear from speaker, Nancy Ruzicka, on current regulations for emergency preparedness for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Register here!
Ms. Ruzicka will review CMS regulations on Emergency Preparedness in eleven different categories for providers and suppliers covered by CMS. These regulations have been updated multiple times with the latest update in November 2019. The regulations established national emergency preparedness requirements in order to adequately plan for both natural and man-made disasters and to coordinate with other local providers and the local preparedness system.
āAll-hazardsā planning which is the basis for hazard vulnerability assessment and planning must now include āemerging infectious diseases (EID)ā such as influenza, Zika, Ebola and now Covid-19.Ā Based upon recent experiences, changes in emergency preparedness planning for infectious disease outbreaks, (i.e., early identification, personal protective equipment supply planning, infectious disease specific staff education), have not been previously included in planning, mitigation, and response and recovery plans.
Participants will hear about other topics requiring greater attention, including: closer planning relationships with other health care providers, tracking of staff and displaced patients/residents, providing care at alternate sites under an 1135 waiver and the role of senior leadership. CMS Emergency Preparedness requirements focus on three key essentials necessary for maintaining access to healthcare during disasters or emergencies: safeguarding human resources, protecting physical resources and maintaining business continuity.
