Respiratory Solutions

Ready for Anything

Disaster Preparedness for Respiratory DME Providers

• By Cyndy Miller
• Jan 01, 2010

History has shown us that we can never be sure where or how the next hurricane, earthquake, viral outbreak or accident will occur. This is why, in the event of a natural or manmade disaster, businesses that serve the public must be ready today with contingency plans that can be put into action in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. And nowhere is that readiness more crucial than in the healthcare industry. Fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control has established a Strategic National Stockpile of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other essential supplies that stands ready for deployment in the case of a major disaster. In addition, hospital systems across the country have put together strategies for handling the large increases in acute care patient population that will likely result from such a disaster.

What role will you as a respiratory DME provider play in such a scenario? Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may be overrun with acutely ill patients during and for some time after an emergency. This may make them inaccessible to homecare patients. The patients you normally service at home will likely need to remain at home or else move to an alternate site like a community center, a school or a church. And they will need to be cared for without reliable power, running water or delivery of consumables.Your organization will play a vital role in the lives of the patients you care for at home.

Helping Families Prepare

What role can you as a respiratory DME provider play in the preparation for such a scenario? As the recent insurance company ad says, “Ready feels good.” One of the most important vital steps roles you can take play is to help the families you service to ready themselves for an emergency situation by walking them through the preparation process. Help the families you care for at home break up the preparation process into small, attainable steps.

Emergency kit. Caregivers should have an emergency kit on hand and ready to go at all times. Some essential contents are: first aid kit, airway care supplies, blankets, several days worth of food and water, radio, flashlights, batteries for the flashlights, batteries for portable ventilator and other power-dependent medical devices, a wrench for shutting off natural gas supplies and other provisions. This kit may need to go with the family if they evacuate their home so all supplies should be stored in containers that can be carried by the adults and adolescents who live in the home.

Power backup. Caregivers should make certain that they are equipped with the power needed to maintain life-sustaining medical device operation and supplemental oxygen delivery for several days in case of power outage. In many cases this means using a combination of emergency generator and external batteries. (See Sidebar, Power Backup Sources, for details.)

Facility evacuation. The most important action in a facility evacuation is getting technology-dependent patients moved to a safe location with the supplies, power and oxygen they need for survival. Encourage home caregivers to post facility sketches with clearly marked exit routes, keep portable disaster kits readily available, agree upon a safe meeting place outside the home and practice evacuation drills. These are all essential ingredients to successful evacuations.

If family members must evacuate their home, they will need a safe place to go where the technology dependent patient’s needs can be met. Arrangements for such a place must be made in advance. Should a patient’s home become unsafe, a prearranged place such as friend’s home or local church/school/community center becomes a lifeline. There should also be a backup plan for a second site should the first site become unavailable or unsuitable.

The fire department is an excellent resource for fire response and evacuation instructions.

Life threatening emergencies. The 911 system may or may not be available during a natural or manmade disaster. If a life threatening emergency occurs at home, it may be best for patients and their family caregivers may to try to use the 911 system to call for help. Remind them that it is important when calling to use a land line if at all possible. This will ensure a quicker response because the 911 emergency responders will have an easier time locating the caller.

Encourage your patients and their families to write down the information that an emergency responder will likely ask them, such as their home phone number, their home address, the nearest major cross street and directions to the home from the cross street.

Your Own Preparations

Just as you make sure that your patients and their families are ready for any eventuality, as a provider you must make sure that your own house is in order. As busy as you are, you must still make the time to meet with your staff to go over the “worst case scenarios” that you might encounter during a disaster situation. Develop plans that address the challenges that these scenarios might impose.

Hopefully, you will never have occasion to implement your disaster preparedness plans. However, you will sleep better knowing that you have thought through the options and are ready to take the proper steps if necessary.

This article originally appeared in the Respiratory & Sleep Management January 2010 issue of HME Business.