I completed two evacuation tabletop exercises this month and also have started the review process of our plan template. At the same time I learned about a great educational resource from FEMA & the American College of Emergency Physicians for administrators, anyone with a HICS leadership position and hospital emergency planners. Hospital Evacuation: Principles and Practices
I completed two evacuation tabletop exercises this month and also have started the review process of our plan template. At the same time I learned about a great educational resource from FEMA & the American College of Emergency Physicians for administrators, anyone with a HICS leadership position and hospital emergency planners. Hospital Evacuation: Principles and Practices
This presentation reminded me of a recent hospital evacuation (Joplin, MO) that included a 1135 Waiver, which is important as an organization begins to consider recovery and re-entry.
What is a 1135 Waiver?
When a disaster or emergency is declared, the HHS Secretary may temporarily waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements to ensure that sufficient health care items and services are available to meet the needs of individuals enrolled. In the case of Joplin, MO, the 1135 waiver allows Freeman Health System to temporarily expand their number of beds in the community to accomodate patient demand until the St. John’s Medical Center can be re-built. The result is that between the three Freeman hospitals in the area, 147-beds will be added to accommodate patient demand in the community.
