Disaster and Pandemic Planning in Health Care

Categories

• Lessons from 9-11 and World Trade Terrorism Attacks (2)
• Lessons from Katrina and Other Hurricanes (2)

Primary Listings

Covid 19 Surge Capacity: Converting Hotels for Coronavirus Patients (ASHE)

Surge capacity resource for hospitals looking at converting hotels in order to serve more coronavirus COVID-19 patients. Prepared by ASHE, the American Society for Health Care Engineering, through the American Hospital Association. This “COVID-19 Response Concept Study” identifies the types of patients suitable to this setting. It lays out a 10 to 14-day timeline to take advantage of hotel ballroom space for patient wards and guest rooms for for patients or staff. Conference rooms and meeting spaces become medication areas, mini-labs,  nursing support and command center. Paper records may get chosen in lieu of unfamiliar (or impractical, given the timing) electronic record systems. This short resource guide covers a wide spectrum of dimensions. Very helpful overview, published April 2020.

Disaster Planner’s Handbook – New York City

Download the 21-page Guide called Managing Chaos. It will walk you through an approach to making plans that will be useful in a real disaster. It is subtitled The Disaster Planner’s Handbook In Eight Parts, by Mitch Stripling, New York City, 2013

Emergency Health Preparedness, State by State (2022)

2022 Edition of the series of state by state reports on emergency health preparedness called “Ready or Not?”. Report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation outlines how well each state meets 10 indicators for public health disasters and emergencies. As with last year, responses and needs identified during the Covid-19 pandemic were incorporated into this year’s report. Published by TFAH with grants from RWJF, March 2022.

Emergency Preparedness Resources: Greater New York Hospital Association

Emergency preparedness resources from the Greater New York Hospital Association. GNYHA maintains an extensive set of resources and reports addressing a variety of disasters and events (e.g. nuclear, biological, and chemical – NBC events), mass casualty events, including gun violence, and public health issues such as influenza, Ebola or weather emergencies. Covid-19 and monkeypox are listed under “Special Pathogens” category. Special categories for evacuation/shelter, communication and command systems, power outages, training and much more. Updated 2022.

Influenza Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel (Joint Commission)

Resources to improve influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel from The Joint Commission.  Joint Commission standards for immunizing health care personnel (HCPs) against influenza – both seasonal flu and pandemic flu. Strategies from research and best practices from others are shared in order to improve vaccination rates (to reach a 90% goal), thereby protecting both patients and staff, and reducing the spread of influenza.

Pandemic Ethics and Rationing of Resources

The Minnesota Pandemic Ethics Project developed recommendations regarding priorities and distribution of scarce resources (potential rationing) in the event of a severe pandemic. Ethical frameworks and ethical guidance, through the University of MN. Pub. 2010.

Public Health Emergencies – National Governors Association

The National Governors Association (NGA) has published Improving State Efforts to Prepare and Respond to Public Health Emergencies. This short 9-page report was written for governors and senior state officials who want to be prepared for a a variety of emerging public health situations.  Examples from Ebola, H1N1 Influenza, Zika and Avian Flu are given. May be useful to healthcare boards and leaders to understand their thinking and governments’ expected roles. Published September 2016.

Resources on Coronavirus for US Hospitals – AHA

Numerous resources about handling coronavirus (COVID-19) cases for US hospitals, from the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Other Helpful Listings

Emergency Supply Kit – List of Recommended Supplies Editor's Pick

This Build A Kit from ready.gov provides a list of recommended supplies and materials to assemble NOW as an emergency supply kit. Water (1 gallon per person per day), food, bedding, prescriptions, can opener, first-aid kit, dust mask, flashlight, batteries, radio, whistle to signal help, and more. Minimum plan: 3 days (72 hours). Extra items listed for the Covid pandemic. Updated Feb. 2022.

Pandemic Flu Guide for Healthcare Workers – OSHA (pdf)

OSHA’s pandemic flu guide helps hospitals and healthcare workers get ready and respond to an influenza pandemic. Addresses clinical information about influenza, infection control and hand hygiene, employee vaccination, protective equipment, self-triage guidelines if you have flu symptoms, and more. Practical and well-referenced. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers is 103 pages; updated for 2009. Other pandemic publications also at this site.