Risk Management Perspective
Policy/Procedure: Emergency preparedness polices/procedures must be kept current and developed using an all hazards approach. Coordination with community emergency response teams and participation in mass casualty drills should be detailed in facility protocols. The facility’s disaster plan must be developed in cooperation with local emergency responders to coordinate the facility’s response and external support in the event of a disaster.
Training: All staff, including volunteers and temporary workers, as well as residents and families, need to be aware and practiced in emergency preparedness processes, and in meeting all special needs of residents in the facility during an internal or external disaster event, including safe evacuation procedures, sheltering in place, or receiving residents from other settings experiencing a disaster .
Audit: Periodically assess the policies/procedures and implementation to ensure they are comprehensive, complete, current, and understood. Monitor for appropriate and timely response during planned drills and submit results to QAPI/QAA for recommendations.
A tornado slammed into a nursing home near Conneautville, Pennsylvania, according to the Crawford County Department of Public Safety. The National Weather Service said it was an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 115 miles per hour and a path width of 50 yards. The roof and walls of the nursing home were blown off, and all 170 residents were evacuated. The county sent buses to shuttle residents and employees to safety. Many of the residents stayed at a local middle school for the night, and officials worked to get them spots in other facilities in the area. No serious injuries were reported, although two residents of the nursing home were hospitalized for unrelated concerns. The tornado did cause some other issues. “There was a pretty severe gas leak at the nursing home. That was one of the things that caused a few problems,” the deputy emergency manager said.
