Utah Admin. Code R432-750-29 - Emergency and Disaster
(1) The licensee is
responsible for the safety and well-being of patients in the event of an
emergency or disaster.
(2)
(a) The licensee and the hospice
administrator shall develop plans coordinated with the state and local
emergency disaster authorities to respond to potential emergencies and
disasters.
(b) The plan shall
outline the protection or evacuation of any patients and include arrangements
for staff response, or provisions of additional staff to ensure the safety of
any patient with physical or mental limitations.
(c) Emergencies and disasters as referred to
in this section include fire, severe weather, missing patients, interruption of
public utilities, explosion, bomb threat, earthquake, flood, windstorm,
epidemic, or mass casualty.
(d) To
assure prompt and efficient implementation, the licensee shall distribute and
make available, the emergency and disaster response plan to any facility staff
and patients.
(e) The licensee and
the hospice administrator shall review and update the plan as necessary to
conform with local emergency plans.
(f) The licensee shall make the plan
available for review by the OL.
(3) The licensee's emergency and disaster
response plans shall address the following:
(a) the assignment of personnel to specific
tasks during an emergency;
(b)
delivery of essential care and services to facility occupants by alternate
means;
(c) delivery of essential
care and services to facility occupants when additional individuals are housed
in the hospice during an emergency;
(d) delivery of essential care and services
to facility occupants when personnel are reduced by an emergency;
(e) instructions on how to contain a fire and
how to use the facility alarm systems;
(f) instructions on how to recruit additional
help, supplies, and equipment to meet patient needs after an emergency or
disaster;
(g) maintenance of safe
ambient air temperatures within the facility including:
(i) the emergency heating is approved by the
local fire department;
(ii) the
individual in charge shall take immediate action in the best interest of
patients when the ambient air temperatures reach 58 degrees Fahrenheit or
below, as it may constitute an imminent danger to the health and safety of the
patients in the hospice; and
(iii)
the licensee shall have and implement a contingency plan regarding excessively
high ambient air temperatures within the hospice that may exacerbate the
medical condition of patients;
(h) the name and telephone number of
emergency medical personnel, fire department, paramedics, ambulance service,
police, and other appropriate agencies;
(i) the name of any individual to notify in
an emergency in order of priority
(j) the name of the individual in charge and
any individual with decision-making authority; and
(k) the procedure to evacuate and transport
patients and staff to a safe place within the hospice or to other prearranged
locations.
(4) The
licensee shall ensure personnel and patients receive instruction and training
in accordance with the plans to respond appropriately in an emergency and the
licensee shall:
(a) annually review the
procedures with existing staff and patients;
(b) document any drills, including the date,
participants, problems encountered, and the ability of each patient to
evacuate; and
(c) hold simulated
disaster drills semi-annually.
(5)
(a) The
licensee shall ensure the hospice administrator is in charge during an
emergency.
(b) If not on the
premises, the hospice administrator shall make every effort to report to the
hospice, relieve subordinates, and take charge.
(6) Each hospice inpatient facility licensee
shall provide in-house any equipment and supplies required in an emergency
including emergency lighting, heating equipment, food, potable water, extra
blankets, a first aid kit, and a radio.
(7) The licensee shall post the following
information in appropriate locations throughout the facility to include:
(a) evacuation routes, location of fire alarm
boxes, and fire extinguishers;
(b)
the name of the individual in charge; and
(c) the names and telephone numbers of
emergency medical personnel, agencies, and appropriate communication and
emergency transport systems.
(8) The licensee shall post emergency
telephone numbers at each nursing station.
(9) Fire drills and fire drill documentation
shall comply with Rule R710-4.
Notes
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No prior version found.