Emergency planning is crucial to safeguarding the well-being of individuals in long-term care settings during unforeseen events. By being proactive and implementing comprehensive plans, facilities can...
Emergency preparedness: More than an act of paperwork
Jul 31, 2017
My phone rang and the voice said, “We are activating our incident command center.” I asked, “Is this a drill?” The voice in a solid tone replied, “This is not a drill.”
Prepare for flooding as snow melt begins
By
Stan Szpytek
Apr 05, 2023
Run-off may adversely impact individual long-term care facilities, as well as the infrastructure of entire communities.
Lessons Learned: What falling out of the sky taught me
By
Martie Moore
Jan 05, 2018
Suddenly the plane dropped and items went flying, including people. We heard the strange noise again and realized that this was not normal turbulence.
Planning for the ‘consequences’ of identified hazards at a long-term care facility
By
Stan Szpytek
Feb 26, 2024
Good emergency planning practices and regulatory compliance mandate that long-term care facilities identify the potential threats, perils, and hazards that can adversely impact operations both from an...
Armed intruder and active shooter preparedness in LTC facilities
By
Stan Szpytek
Steve Wilder
Oct 09, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires skilled nursing facilities to plan for emergencies and disasters to protect the vulnerable population they serve. The regulations cited in Appendix...
Think like an incident commander
By
Stan Szpytek
Nov 14, 2022
If there is anything that the last several years have taught long-term care providers about managing emergencies and disasters, it’s that strong leadership is a critical operational component to help...
Recovery and restoration: Critical emergency planning components
By
Stan Szpytek
Dec 13, 2022
Long-term care providers around the nation achieved significant levels of proficiency in managing emergencies and disasters during the past few years. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...
‘Too lax for too long’: Providers urged to shore up active shooter planning
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 18, 2022
As active shooters increasingly target healthcare settings amid a nationwide spate of attacks, safety experts emphasize nursing homes must confront distinct disadvantages to ensure patient and staff safety.