Healthcare providers must establish effective emergency preparedness plans to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, patients, and visitors. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness (EP) Program consists of four core elements for healthcare facilities to safeguard their operations and the people they serve. In their Final Rule released on September 30, 2019, CMS provided an extensive overview of these four elements, two of which are a communications plan and regularly scheduled EP training and testing.
SOS Technologies is committed to helping healthcare facilities institute security response strategies that are well coordinated and establish direct connections with local infrastructure and emergency responders to promote rapid response during times of crisis.
Ensure a Swift and Effective Response
A swift and effective emergency response is vital for keeping caregivers, staff, and patients safe. Healthcare organizations, due to their scale and complexity, require solutions that are reliable and can be immediately activated during an emergency. Solutions that can convey event information directly to dispatch and first responders further minimize the consequences of emergency events.
- Instantaneous Communication: Communication networks should be ready to spring into action at the touch of a button – avoiding administrative delay. This means having protocols and systems in place that can be swiftly activated to meet specific use cases.
- Versatile Communication Channels: Communication systems should have the capacity to distribute messages across multiple channels, including mobile notifications, recorded voice messages, text messages, and emails, with redundancy to ensure information is received.
Communications Customized for your Audiences
Collaborate with Local Authorities for a Unified Response
Communication plans that prioritize seamless integration with local infrastructure (e.g., police, fire, EMS, etc.) strengthen emergency preparedness plans and help healthcare providers directly respond to the needs of their communities.
- Local Response: Emergency preparedness solutions that directly integrate local infrastructure and public services keep both providers and community services continually informed of ongoing developments, ensuring that a site of care is always attentive and informed during an emergency scenario.
- Inter-Hospital Coordination: Cooperation with other healthcare facilities helps expedite response during a large emergency or mass-casualty event.
Track and Monitor for Safety and Efficiency
Solutions that enable comprehensive tracking of staff and patients within a healthcare facility support the safety of individuals and enable the delivery of efficient care.
- Staff Management: Rapid contact with all staff members based on their schedules, areas of expertise, and specific hospital needs facilitates accountability and quick, efficient coordination during emergency scenarios.
- Patient Monitoring: Monitoring the status of patients is equally critical. It is essential to have a system in place to accurately track patients’ movements and provide them with proper guidance during an emergency.
- Communication with Off-Duty Employees During Emergencies: Establishing contact with staff members who are off-duty when an emergency arises can also be valuable.
Comprehensive Documentation for Compliance
Documenting communications during emergency situations is essential. Following the rules established by CMS, providers and suppliers have a duty to document their efforts in collaborating with emergency officials.
To adhere to these standards, it’s advisable to employ a communication and security platform that automatically records messages and interactions during emergencies. This not only guarantees a precise paper trail but also alleviates the workload of emergency responders, allowing them to concentrate on critical tasks rather than manual record-keeping.
The SmartSOS™ platform maintains records of all system initiations to include testing of the system in support of tabletop or full-blown exercises.
Maintaining a Reliable Platform
Although not explicitly outlined in the guidelines, having reliable emergency plans and services should not be overlooked. When building an emergency preparedness plan, it’s essential to ensure that communication networks are reliable and function, even when public utilities and networks are down.
Keep Your Plans Current
These elements constitute the core requirements set by CMS for emergency preparedness. Facilities should meticulously assess their existing systems, identify gaps, and engage with providers who can help fill those gaps, as “the plan must be reviewed and updated at least every 2 years.” It’s essential that a healthcare facility be well-prepared and responsive in the event of emergencies, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of both staff and patients.
SOS Technologies is Your Emergency Preparedness Partner
SOS Technologies can partner with your healthcare organization to strengthen your emergency preparedness plan with the support of our SmartSOS™ platform. Unrivaled in its effectiveness, our platform drives effective communication with staff, patients, and visitors, as well as external emergency services, during a crisis scenario. Delivering exceptional emergency monitoring, prevention, and response capabilities, ours is the only such patented platform in the United States that connects directly to law enforcement and first responders.
Let SOS Technologies keep your organization safe. Schedule a presentation today.