Emergency Emergency Management Facts Management Facts

and Mythsand Myths

byby

Donna L. Pitre, RN, BSN, Donna L. Pitre, RN, BSN, CHSPCHSP

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsObjectivesObjectives Understand TJC new EM chapterUnderstand TJC new EM chapter Describe emergency credentialingDescribe emergency credentialing Identify communications meansIdentify communications means Describe lessons learned (myths) Describe lessons learned (myths)

encountered during Emergency Plan encountered during Emergency Plan activations.activations.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts Management Facts

and Mythsand MythsEmergencyEmergency--unexpected or sudden unexpected or sudden event that significantly disrupts the event that significantly disrupts the organization’s ability to provide care, organization’s ability to provide care, or significantly disrupts the or significantly disrupts the environment of care itself…environment of care itself…

human-madehuman-made natural (electrical system failure, natural (electrical system failure, hurricane, tornado)hurricane, tornado)

EMERGENCIES IMPACT ALL EMERGENCIES IMPACT ALL EMPLOYEESEMPLOYEES

As of 2009, TJC is separating the EM As of 2009, TJC is separating the EM section of the EC chapter and section of the EC chapter and making its own chapter making its own chapter

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

EMERGENCIES IMPACT ALL EMERGENCIES IMPACT ALL EMPLOYEESEMPLOYEES

EM.02.02.13EM.02.02.13During disasters, the organization may During disasters, the organization may

grant disaster privileges to volunteer grant disaster privileges to volunteer licensed independent practitioners.licensed independent practitioners.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

Volunteer practitioner requirements:Volunteer practitioner requirements: Government-issued photo identificationGovernment-issued photo identificationAnd at least one of the following:And at least one of the following: Current health care organization Current health care organization

identificationidentification Current license to practice.Current license to practice. Primary source verification of licensurePrimary source verification of licensure DMAT, MRC, ESAR-VHP authorityDMAT, MRC, ESAR-VHP authority Confirmation by a LP currently privilegedConfirmation by a LP currently privileged

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION TJC EM.02.02.01 TJC EM.02.02.01

-…how will the organization -…how will the organization communicate during a disastercommunicate during a disaster

Multiple mechanisms (Telephone, cell Multiple mechanisms (Telephone, cell phones, Blackberries, 700/800 MHz, phones, Blackberries, 700/800 MHz, HAM, satellite phones, satellite internet HAM, satellite phones, satellite internet connections, VHF, etc.)connections, VHF, etc.)

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

Myth:Myth:ICU and NICU patients should be ICU and NICU patients should be

moved first during an evacuationmoved first during an evacuation

Lesson Learned:

Arrival time of different EMT vehicles fluctuates

•Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

If there is an emergency, the hospital will If there is an emergency, the hospital will be notified by the EMT service before be notified by the EMT service before they arrive.they arrive.

Lesson Learned:

In emergency situations, EMT services may not have contact information

Emergency Management Emergency Management Facts and MythsFacts and Myths

Myth:Myth:

Surprise disaster drills are good to Surprise disaster drills are good to test employee knowledgetest employee knowledge

Lesson Learned:

Surprise disaster drill put unnecessary stress on staff and my be ground for litigation.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

If there are problems during a drill, there If there are problems during a drill, there will be problems during an actual will be problems during an actual emergency.emergency.

Lesson Learned:

There is difficulty when conducting a drill compared to a real disaster.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

All disasters are catastrophic and involve All disasters are catastrophic and involve hundreds of thousands of victimshundreds of thousands of victims

Lesson Learned:Lesson Learned:

As few as 10 causalities can As few as 10 causalities can cause an emergency plan to cause an emergency plan to be implemented.be implemented.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

A digital camera is a perfect picture A digital camera is a perfect picture taking device during a disaster. taking device during a disaster.

Lesson Learned:

Ensure enough batteries and a sufficient memory card.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

All of the forms that are needed during a All of the forms that are needed during a disaster are copied on the network disaster are copied on the network ready for use.ready for use.

Lesson Learned:

The network may not accessible.

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsMyth:Myth:

External aid (state, federal) can be relied External aid (state, federal) can be relied upon in the immediate post-disaster upon in the immediate post-disaster phase.phase.

Lesson Learned:

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMyths

(Shillerstrom, Business Insurance 2008)

Emergency Emergency Management Facts and Management Facts and

MythsMythsReferences:References:Kaji, Amy. (2005). Acute Care College Medical Student Kaji, Amy. (2005). Acute Care College Medical Student

Seminar. Seminar. Disaster Facts and Myths, Disaster Facts and Myths, . Retrieved  . Retrieved  July 7, 2008, from www.medsch.ucla.edu/curriculum/year4July 7, 2008, from www.medsch.ucla.edu/curriculum/year4/acutecare/Docs/Disaster%20Facts%20and%20Myths/acutecare/Docs/Disaster%20Facts%20and%20Myths%20(NXPowerLite).ppt database. %20(NXPowerLite).ppt database.

The Joint Commission 2008: Hospital Accreditation The Joint Commission 2008: Hospital Accreditation Program. 2009 Chapter: Emergency Management.Program. 2009 Chapter: Emergency Management.