In: Operations Management
Course: HCAD 600
Question: In Hurricane Katrina or The Northridge Earthquake or The 2001 postal anthrax attacks or The Joplin Tornado or Superstorm Sandy or The 2014 Ebola outbreak ( choose one)
How did the event impact the hospital and health community? What steps could have been taken to better prepare? To better respond? Does your institution or workplace have a continuity of operations (COOP) plan? Do you test it regularly?
Please cite any source used, thank you.
EXPLANATION:
In October last year, Superstorm Sandy celebrated its five-year anniversary. The storm was so destructive that it was costly for billions of dollars. In the area of Connecticut, New Jersey , and New York, 89 percent of hospitals stated to be having significant difficulties responding to the storm according to Levinson (2014). The challenges included the breaking down of infrastructure such as failure to communicate and electrical equipment, community cooperation issues on fuel, transport, hospital beds and shelters. Accompanying actions taken under the conditions of participation of Medicare could be taken in order to prepare for such a natural disaster:
Creation and execution of the comprehensive urgency plan and the maintenance of a physical environment which ensures the protection and well-being of patients in situations of emergency; compliance with the relevant Life Protection Code provisions; adequate health and nursing staff capable of meeting the emergency needs of patients. I would also consider the implementation and funding of disaster preparedhood programs by two organizations in the Ministry of Health and Human Services. In order to better plan for emergencies in public health, I will seek to find details about grants and agreements with the State. With a newly acquired organization, we are always searching for the best ways to prepare ourselves when anything of this nature takes place.
Levinson, D. R. (2014, September). Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Response During Superstorm Sandy. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-13-00260.pdf