Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0720 - Health Facilities Commission
Chapter 0720-20 - Standards for Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Centers
Section 0720-20-.14 - DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Universal Citation: TN Comp Rules and Regs 0720-20-.14

Current through April 3, 2024

(1) The administration of every facility shall have in effect and available for all supervisory personnel and staff, written copies of the following required disaster plans for the protection of all persons in the event of fire and other emergencies for evacuation to areas of refuge and/or evacuation from the building. A detailed log with staff signatures of training received shall be maintained. All employees shall be trained annually as required in the following plans and shall be kept informed with respect to their duties under the plans. A copy of the plans and the specific emergency numbers related to that type of disaster shall be readily available at all times. Each of the following plans shall be exercised annually:

(a) Fire Safety Procedures Plan shall include:
1. Minor fires;

2. Major fires;

3. Fighting the fire;

4. Evacuation procedures;

5. Staff functions.

(b) Tornado/Severe Weather Procedures Plan shall include:
1. Staff duties;

2. Evacuation procedures.

(c) Flood Procedure Plan, if applicable:
1. Staff duties;

2. Evacuation procedures;

3. Safety procedures following the flood.

(d) Earthquake Disaster Procedures Plan:
1. Staff duties;

2. Evacuation procedures;

3. Safety procedures;

4. Emergency services.

(2) All facilities shall participate in the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency local/county emergency plan on an annual basis. Participation includes filling out and submitting a questionnaire on a form to be provided by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Documentation of participation must be maintained and shall be made available to survey staff as proof of participation.

(3) The emergency power system shall:

(a) Use either propane, gasoline or diesel fuel. The generator shall be designed to meet the facility's HVAC and essential needs and shall have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of fuel designed to operate at its rated load. The fuel quantity shall be based on its expected or known connected load consumption during power interruptions.

(b) Automatically transfer within ten (10) seconds in ASTC's conducting invasive surgical procedures.

(c) Be inspected monthly and exercised at the actual load and operating temperature conditions and not on dual power for at least thirty (30) minutes each month, including automatic and manual transfer of equipment. A log shall be maintained for all inspections and tests and kept on file for a minimum of three (3) years. The facility shall have trained staff familiar with the generator's operation.

(d) Emergency generators are not required if the facility does not utilize anesthesia that renders the patient incapable of self preservation. However, the facility shall have an emergency power source able to produce adequate power to run required equipment for a minimum of two (2) hours.

(4) Emergency electrical power connections shall be through a switch which shall automatically transfer the circuits to the emergency power source in case of power failure. (It is recognized that some equipment may not sustain automatic transfer and provisions will have to be made to manually change these items from a non-emergency powered outlet to an emergency powered outlet or other power source.)

(5) In the event of natural disaster or electrical power failure, no new surgical procedures shall be begun, and surgical procedures in progress shall be brought to conclusion as soon as possible.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 68-11-202, 68-11-204, 68-11-206, 68-11-209, and 68-11-216.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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