Develop a hospital emergency management committee. How is it structured? The emergency management committee “is a multi-disciplinary team that is charged with developing processes, policies, and procedures, conducting staff education, and securing necessary resources to ensure a prompt, coordinated and effective response to all disaster affecting the environment of care to the hospital.” Its structure should reflect the healthcare facility’s organization and response operations. Members should be drawn from four principal groups: Clinical personnel, nonclinical personnel, the sections of the facility’s Information management system, and the local response community. Such a broad composition on the committee can build support for the resulting emergency management program and associated activities. What is their purpose and responsibilities? The committee is responsible for all facets of the emergency operations plan, including the incorporation of exercises and after action reports intended to examine our response while identifying opportunities for improvement. The emergency management committee focus on six critical planning areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Communications Resources and Assets Safety and Security Staff Responsibility Utilities Patient Clinical and Support Activities Emergency Management Committees are challenged by the scope of their responsibilities, the size of the committee, and other similar issues. It is important that Committee meetings are mandatory, occur at least once a quarter, follow an agenda, and have audiovisual and other support readily available. Perhaps the most important role the committee plays is in the ongoing program evaluation and organizational learning which benefits from the advice of personnel who understand the organization’s systems. Important considerations for the EMC. Who should be on your EMC and why? Members should be drawn from four principal groups: Clinical personnel, nonclinical personnel, the sections of the facility’s emergency operations plan, and the local response community. The EMC membership includes leadership, key operating unit managers, and a balanced representation of the organization’s operational and support units. It should also have a wide range of expertise. Most sophisticated EMCs will also solicit external representatives from relevant public and private entities external to the healthcare system. Such a broad composition on the committee can build support for the resulting emergency management program and associated activities. Committee membership includes representation from: • • • • • • Medical staff Nursing staff Infection Control Clinical support services Facilities Engineering (also called Physical Plant) Safety/Industrial Hygiene • • • • Acquisition and Materials Management Fiscal Services Security ƒ Emergency program manager or designee from any larger system that includes the healthcare facility (for VHA, this would be the Area Emergency Manager, who coordinate emergency management among regional VHA healthcare facilities) Key Operating Unit (i.e., Departmental) Managers. Emergency Management Programs for Healthcare Facilities ... (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=765426 Emergency Management Principles and Practices for Healthcare Systems, Second Edition (June 2010). The Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management (ICDRM) at the George Washington University (GWU) for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Washington, D.C. • • Develop a hospital emergency management committee. How is it structured? Emergency Management Committee of West Central Park Hospital West Central Park, emergency management committee, consists of 10 representatives from a wide variety of departments. A diverse group allows for different perspectives and expertise to contribute to and alter the Emergency Operation Plan, resulting in a thorough and well-supported plan. It will convene regularly, every month, and meetings are mandatory. If a representative cannot make it, they may send one alternate representative in their place. This committee is led by the hospital emergency manager (EM) who has overall authority (Institute of Medicine, 2013). What are their purpose and responsibilities? Markenson and Relly (2011), explain that the purpose of this Emergency Management Committee is to provide direction and feedback for the Emergency Management Plan; to contribute to a collaborative ever-improving program. The committee’s responsibilities include: 1. Continuously analyze all risks which threaten the operational activities of the hospital 2. Oversee and guide hospital’s the development of emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery plans and efforts 3. Analyze emergency management initiatives 4. Maintain familiarity with accreditation requirements and changes 5. Manage self-assessments for accreditation compliance continuity 6. Design and conduct internal disaster drills 7. Analyze After Action Reports 8. Update emergency plans that will be presented to the Policy Group by the EM 9. Review annually existing emergency management policies and procedures, and recommend changes 10. for approval and further presentation to the Policy Group 11. Post/present any and all changes to staff 12. Create performance measurements for: 13. Response to emergencies and drills 14. Reviewing emergency responses and drills for problems 15. Develop training curricula and facilitate presentations of curriculum to necessary staff 16. Assist in the management of a response to an emergency 17. Record minutes and distribute them to its membership Who should be on your EMC and why? The Committee membership will consist of representatives from a broad spectrum of hospital departments as well as community partners. Membership from community emergency response partners will help develop cohesive response plans. Making and keeping relationships with community partners is critical to the success of large-scale responses (Emergency management committee, 2015). Representatives from: Senior leadership, Information Technology, Human Resources, Administration, chief executive, medical officer, Finance, Hospital Safety, Hospital Security, Communications Representatives from clinical departments to offer their unique perspectives, concerns, and challenges: Nursing, Paediatrics, Laboratory, Radiology, Critical care services, Surgery, Burn Services, Trauma Services References, Institute of Medicine. (2013). Hospital-Based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11621. Markenson, D. S., & Reilly, M. J. (2011). Health care emergency management: Principles and practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Emergency Management Committee. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.upstate.edu/emergencymgt/about/committee.php file:///Users/jadebudden/Downloads/765426%20(3).pdf
Purchase answer to see full attachment