Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Each hospital shall develop and adopt a
written comprehensive emergency management plan for emergency care during an
internal or external disaster or an emergency, which is reviewed and updated
annually.
(2) The emergency
management plan shall be developed in conjunction with other agencies and
providers of health care services within the local community pursuant to
section 395.1055(1)(c),
F.S., and in accordance with the "Emergency Management Planning Criteria for
Hospitals, " AHCA Form 3130-8005-September 94, which is incorporated by
reference. The form is available from the Agency for Health Care
Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #31, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.
The plan shall include:
(a) Provisions for
internal and external disasters and emergencies;
(b) A description of the hospital's role in
community wide emergency management plans;
(c) Information about how the hospital plans
to implement specific procedures outlined in the hospital's emergency
management plan;
(d) Precautionary
measures, including voluntary cessation of hospital admissions, to be taken by
the hospital in preparation and response to warnings of inclement weather, or
other potential emergency conditions;
(e) Provisions for the management of
patients, including the discharge of all patients that meet discharge
requirements, in the event of an evacuation order, at the direction of the
hospital administrator, or when a determination is made by the Agency that the
condition of the facility or its support services is sufficient to render it a
hazard to the health and safety of patients and staff, pursuant to chapter
59A-3, F.A.C. Such provisions shall address moving patients within the hospital
and relocating patients outside the hospital, including the roles and
responsibilities of the physician and the hospital in the decision to move or
relocate patients whose life or health is threatened;
(f) Education and training of personnel in
carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the adopted
plan;
(g) A provision for
coordinating with other hospitals that would receive relocated
patients;
(h) Provisions for the
management of staff, including the distribution and assignment of
responsibilities and functions, and the assignment of staff to accompany those
patients located at off-site locations;
(i) Provisions for the individual
identification of patients, including the transfer of patient
records;
(j) Provisions to ensure
that a verification check will be made to ensure relocated patients arrive at
designated hospitals;
(k)
Provisions to ensure that medication needs will be reviewed and advance
medication for relocated patients will be forwarded to respective hospitals,
when permitted by existing supplies, and state and federal law;
(l) Provisions for essential care and
services for patients who may be relocated to the facility during a disaster or
an emergency, including staffing, supplies and identification of
patients;
(m) Provisions for
contacting relatives and necessary persons advising them of patient location
changes. A procedure must also be established for responding to inquiries from
patient families and the press;
(n)
Provisions for the management of supplies, communications, power, emergency
equipment, security, and the transfer of records;
(o) Provisions for coordination with
designated agencies including the Red Cross and the county emergency management
office; and,
(p) Plans for the
recovery phase of the operation, to be carried out as soon as
possible.
(3) The plan,
including the "Emergency Management Planning Criteria for Hospitals, " shall be
submitted annually to the county emergency management agency for review and
approval. A fee may be charged for the review of the plan as authorized by
sections 252.35(2)(m)
and 252.38(1)(e),
F.S.
(a) The county office of emergency
management has 60 days in which to review and approve the plan, or advise the
facility of necessary revisions. If the county emergency management agency
advises the facility of necessary revisions to the plan, those revisions shall
be made and the plan resubmitted to the county office of emergency management
within 30 days of notification by the county emergency management
agency.
(b) The county office of
emergency management shall be the final administrative authority for emergency
plans developed by hospitals.
(4) The hospital shall test the
implementation of the emergency management plan semiannually, either in
response to a disaster or an emergency or in a planned drill, and shall
evaluate and document the hospital's performance to the hospital's safety
committee. As an alternative, the hospital may test its plan with the frequency
specified by an accrediting organization.
(5) The emergency management plan shall be
located for immediate access by hospital staff.
(6) In the event a disaster or emergency
conditions have been declared by the local emergency management authority, and
the hospital does not evacuate the premises, a facility may provide emergency
accommodations above the licensed capacity for patients. However, the following
conditions must be met:
(a) The facility must
report being over capacity and the conditions causing it to the Agency area
office within 48 hours or as soon as practical. As an alternative, the facility
may report to the Agency central office, Hospital and Outpatient Services Unit,
at (850)412-4549;
(b) Life safety
cannot be jeopardized for any individual;
(c) The essential needs of patients must be
met; and,
(d) The facility must be
staffed to meet the essential needs of patients.
(7) If the hospital will be over capacity
after the declared disaster or emergency situation ends, the agency shall
approve the over capacity situation on a case-by-case basis using the following
criteria:
(a) Life safety cannot be
jeopardized for any individual;
(b)
The essential needs of patients must be met; and,
(c) The facility must be staffed to meet the
essential needs of patients.
(8) If a facility evacuates during or after a
disaster or an emergency situation, the facility shall not be reoccupied until
a determination is made by the hospital administrator that the facility can
meet the needs of the patients.
(9)
A facility with significant structural damage shall relocate patients until
approval is received from the Agency's Office of Plans and Construction that
the facility can be safely reoccupied, in accordance with rule
59A-3.080, F.A.C.
(10) A facility that must evacuate the
premises due to a disaster or emergency conditions shall report the evacuation
to the Agency area office within 48 hours or as soon as practical. The
administrator or designee is responsible for knowing the location of all
patients until the patient has been discharged from the facility. The names and
location of patients relocated shall be provided to the local emergency
management authority or it's designee having responsibility for tracking the
population at large. The licensee shall inform the Agency area office of a
contact person who will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until
the facility is reoccupied.
Rulemaking Authority 395.1055 FS. Law Implemented
395.1055(1)(c) FS.
New 1-1-77, Formerly 10D-28.78, 10D-28.078, Amended 9-3-92,
12-28-94, 10-16-14.
