The elephant in the room: Are you prepared for the next emergency?
By
Angela Rinehart
Norris Cunningham
Sep 30, 2022
Historically, emergency preparedness programs in long-term care facilities have been less prioritized, with facilities understandably focusing on patient care and operations. But with the pandemic...
CMS may expand emergency preparedness requirements for nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 19, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will explore broadening some of its life safety and emergency preparedness requirements after a federal audit found widespread noncompliance with the regulations.
Watchdog says not enough nursing homes including emerging infectious diseases in emergency plans
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 01, 2022
A federal watchdog agency has called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to update regulations and “make clear” that nursing homes must include emerging infectious diseases as a risk in...
For providers, the time has come to predict, prepare and partner up for the the next big threat
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2024
BALTIMORE — One of the newest nursing home division staff members at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offered up her best Notradamus impression for providers here Wednesday. No, Lenise Cummings-Vaughn,...
Conducting and documenting meaningful fire drills in LTC facilities
By
Stan Szpytek
Apr 16, 2024
From some of our earliest memories in elementary school as little kids, we all recall participating in fire drills on a periodic basis. Of course, the purpose of those fire drills was to train students,...
Nursing homes reveal widespread emergency planning barriers in new OIG report
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 06, 2023
More than three-quarters of US nursing homes in areas at high risk for natural disasters face significant challenges in preparing for them, estimates a new federal report issued early Wednesday.
‘More must be done’ by providers for emergency prep: Senate report
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 24, 2023
Massive power failures and widespread evacuations caused by severe weather should be taken as a “warning sign” that US nursing homes remain unprepared for emergencies and the coming effects of climate...
Next nursing home reform target: Emergency preparedness?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 02, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may soon intensify its reform agenda focus on emergency planning, one of many areas targeted in President Biden’s 21-point nursing home plan unveiled earlier...
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...
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...