The emergency preparedness rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unique requirements for nursing homes and long-term care facilities that will have to face a survey revealing whether they comply with new regulations, according to McKnights Long-term Care News.
Facilities have to decide whether to focus on high-impact but low-frequency events, such as active shooters or hurricanes, while minimizing attention to more common but less impactful events.
A comprehensive approach to risk assessment and planning will protect safety and facilitate continuity of operations. Policies and procedures, a communication plan, and training and testing make up the other elements of the CMS final rule, the article said.
Ongoing documentation also will lead to a smoother survey. Although the survey will also include inspections and interviews of key personnel, documentation will be the focus.
Heath care facilities should have documentation and records for every core element of the CMS emergency preparedness requirements.
This Quick Read was submitted by Cathryn Jakicic, Healthcare Industries Editor, FacilitiesNet. For more about hospital campuses and other medical facilities, visit https://www.facilitiesnet.com/healthcarefacilities.
