Untitled Document

Be Prepared

Every health care facility, no matter how large or small, should have a site-specific emergency management plan. The plan should include a bioterrorism readiness component. If your facility does not have formal emergency plan, local EMS departments will serve as excellent resources to develop one. Integration into local community response plans will improve communication and efficiency. Check your plan to make sure that the following information is available:

Reporting protocols
- In-house contacts
  - Security, Fire, ACLS, etc.
  - Administration
  - Infection control
- External contacts
  - Local
    - Police (911)
    - Fire
    - Near by Emergency Room
  - State Health Department
  - Poison Control Center
  - Federal Bureau of Investigation
  - CDC Emergency Response Office
- Event Tracking Documentation
  - Patient complaint
  - Event location (patient or transport address)
  - Parties to the exposure (names, addresses, phone#)
  - Recent foreign travel
Patient admission, triage and transfer
Infection Control Practices
- Decontamination procedures
- Isolation precautions
- Patient transport
- Personal protective equipment (CDC recommended procedures for donning and removing PPE)
- Cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing
Specimen, evidence and laboratory processing
Discharge management
Post-mortem care
Psychological& Social Service support