When operating an Assisted Care Living Facility, it is imperative to operate by the rule of the 5 ‘P’s; Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. This could be no truer than when discussing emergency preparedness for disasters. Make sure you and your team are completely aware of the following Emergency Preparedness regulations provided by the Tennessee Office of Health Care Facilities:
1200-08-25-.16 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
(1) An ACLF shall have in effect and available for all supervisory personnel and staff written copies of the following disaster, refuge, and/or evacuation plans readily available at all times:
(a) Fire Safety Procedures Plan shall include:
- Minor fires;
- Major fires;
- Fighting the fire;
- Evacuation procedures; and
- Staff functions.
(b) Tornado/Severe Weather Procedures Plan shall include:
- Staff duties; and
- Evacuation procedures.
(c) Bomb Threat Procedures Plan shall include:
- Staff duties;
- Search team, searching the premises;
- Notification of authorities;
- Location of suspicious objects; and,
- Evacuation procedures.
(d) Flood Procedure Plan, if applicable, shall include:
- Staff duties;
- Evacuation procedures; and
- Safety procedures following the flood.
(e) Severe Cold Weather and Severe Hot Weather Procedure Plans shall include:
- Staff duties;
- Equipment failures;
- Evacuation procedures; and
- Emergency food service.
(f) Earthquake Disaster Procedures Plan shall include:
- Staff duties;
- Evacuation procedures;
- Safety procedures; and
- Emergency services.
(2) An ACLF shall comply with the following:
(a) Maintain a detailed log with staff signatures designating training each employee receives regarding disaster preparedness.
(b) Train all employees annually as required in the plans listed above and keep each employee informed with respect to the employee’s duties under the plans.
(c) Exercise each of the plans listed above annually.
(3) An ACLF shall participate in the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency local/county emergency plan on an annual basis. Participation includes:
(a) Filling out and submitting a questionnaire on a form to be provided by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency; and
(b) Maintaining documentation of participation that shall be made available to survey staff as proof of participation.
(4) ACLFs which elect to have an emergency generator shall ensure that the generator is designed to meet the ACLF’s HVAC and essential needs and shall have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of fuel designed to operate at its rated load. This requirement shall be coordinated with the Disaster Preparedness Plan or with the local resources.
(a) All generators shall be exercised for thirty (30) minutes each month under full load, including automatic and manual transfer of equipment.
(b) The emergency generator shall be operated at the existing connected load and not on dual power. The ACLF shall maintain a monthly log and have trained staff familiar with the generator’s operation.
Top Takeaways:
- (2) An ACLF shall comply with the following: (a) Maintain a detailed log with staff signatures designating training each employee receives regarding disaster preparedness. (b) Train all employees annually as required in the plans listed above and keep each employee informed with respect to the employee’s duties under the plans. (c) Exercise each of the plans listed above annually.
After a surveyor performs an inspection of your employee training and finds no evidence of emergency training, they will absolutely cite you for a deficiency. They have heard time and time again, “we did the training! We just forgot to do a sign-in sheet.” No excuses! Make sure you have a system in place for who conducts this training and is responsible for the training documentation.
- (4) ACLFs which elect to have an emergency generator shall ensure that the generator is designed to meet the ACLF’s HVAC and essential needs and shall have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of fuel designed to operate at its rated load. This requirement shall be coordinated with the Disaster Preparedness Plan or with the local resources.
Take the next step in your preparedness and get a generator for your community BEFORE you need it. Having the generator ensures your residents will have comfort in the event of losing power.