Resource:

How to Prepare Your Healthcare Organization for a Severe Weather Event

Whitepaper

Challenge: Care Continuum  Cultural Transformation  

Content provided by AHA Endorsement partner: Agility Recovery

This white paper will outline the key considerations that are unique to hospitals and healthcare providers that will help in preparing for severe weather events.


INTRODUCTION
In 2012, there were a total of 939 tornadoes in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). That same year, NOAA reports that 67,000 wildfires destroyed more than 9 million acres. Meanwhile, storm surges from hurricanes have been known to raise flood waters as much as 20 feet. During an event such as these, your facility could lose power or connectivity. You might have to evacuate, or take on patients from another hospital or healthcare facility that has been evacuated. Are you prepared to serve your community during a disaster? And if so, for how long?

Extreme weather conditions can happen suddenly. Even with weather forecasts, we never fully know when a severe weather event is going to arise. When disaster strikes, that’s when a healthcare organization is needed the most. Yet some events can adversely affect the ability for hospitals and healthcare providers to operate according to their traditional response plan, regardless of whether they are a single, free-standing facility or a large healthcare system. Being down for even one day can result in a financial loss of millions of dollars. Damages from Superstorm Sandy are estimated at $65.5 billion, according to Hellman Worldwide Logistics, making it the second costliest Atlantic hurricane, behind Katrina. After Hurricane Ike in 2008, FEMA reported that Medical Hospital University-Galveston lost $276 million in revenues as a result of reduced operations.

Conversely, the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that every dollar invested in disaster preparedness yields savings of $4–$11 in disaster response, relief and recovery. For healthcare, however, there is much more at stake than revenue. Unlike some other industries, in healthcare, being prepared can make the difference between a life saved and a life lost. As injuries occur, having a place to set up to care for patients, as well as the ability to access someone’s medical history—their health problems, what medicines they’re taking and what they might be allergic to—can make all the difference. It only takes a split second to save or lose a patient.

From setting up a satellite location for triage to shifting personnel to another facility, or being able to communicate with your team in a hurry when your systems are down, the healthcare industry has unique business continuity needs.

Healthcare organizations that have a two-pronged strategy—a disaster recovery plan and an incident command and control system—will be able to respond more efficiently, resulting in reduced patient disruption and more lives saved during a severe weather event.

Download the full Whitepaper to learn more.