Discussion: Emergency Preparedness

 

Healthcare organizations are often faced with natural and man-made disasters. In order to continue patient care operations, it is important to have an emergency operations plan (EOP). Assume you are the HIM director for a community hospital. 

(1) What steps will you take to preparing for such emergencies? 

(2) How will you address the six critical areas: communication, resource and assets, safety and security, staff responsibilities, utilities management, and patient clinical and support activities? While some of the critical areas require more input from more individuals in the clinical area, respond to the questions from the perspective of the HIM director.  

• The initial response must be relevant, detailed, specific, at least 250 words.