EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES

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EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES

• Joseph B. Phillips
• Director
• Division of Emergency Medical Services

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Facility Hazards

• Fire
• Storms
• Hazardous Materials
• Earthquakes
• Bioterrorism Pandemics

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Facility Preparedness

• BLHCF Regulations for Fire Safety and Patient
  Relocation
• Local Emergency Services will Conduct Emergency
  Evacuations
• The Capability Now Exists in all Regions to
  Coordinate a Multi County Ambulance Response

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Catastrophic Hazards

• Cause- Severe Storms- Blizzards, Ice Storms,
  Floods, Earthquakes, Epidemics
• Results- Death and Injury to Residents and Long
  Term Loss of Electricity and other Utilities

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Catastrophic Events

• Could Cause Utility Loss for Several Weeks
• Evacuation/Relocation Plans May Not work Because
  all Facilities in a Multi County Area Could have
  the Same Problems
• In that Situation, How can Residents be Kept Warm
  and Fed?

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Events Where This Problem Has Occurred

• Blizzard of 1993
• Ice Storm of 1994
• Lawrenceburg Flood of 1998
• Jackson Tornados of 2004

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Tennessee Emergency Management Plan

• The TEMP is the state and local government guide
  to managing emergencies
• TEMA will Coordinate the Work of All State
  Agencies and Many Private Groups to Support Local
  Needs During Emergencies
• Resources can be Obtained from State, Federal and
  Corporate Sources.

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Emergency Resources

• Generators
• Water
• Food
• Shelter

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Pandemic Influenza

• A Flu Pandemic is Expected to be Nationwide
• Federal Assistance of all Types would be Rationed
• There may be no Hospital Beds for Long Term Care
  Patients
• Health Care Services will Triage Patients

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Pandemic Effects

• Staff will be Reduced
• Visitors may have to be Banned
• Food Deliveries may be Affected
• Sick Residents may have to be Treated in the
  Facility because Hospital Beds May Not be
  Available

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Questions?