September is National Preparedness Month - Informative Emergency Preparedness Resources Are Available

September 2017 marks, among other observances, National Preparedness Month.  National Preparedness Month will focus on planning, with an overarching theme “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” The goal of this month is to increase the overall number of individuals, families, and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, businesses, school, and places of worship. 

That being said, it is important to note that Emergency Preparedness Final Rule was released on Friday, September 16, 2016.  The rule impacts skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs), but does not apply to assisted living providers.  On June 2, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the Emergency Preparedness Interpretive Guidance (IG), which can be found here.  AHCA members are highly encouraged to look through the IG.  Providers will need to comply with the final rule by November 2017.  Click here for a summary AHCA put together of the IG for your use. 

That being said, AHCA has several informative emergency preparedness resources that you might be interested in.  AHCA has an Emergency Preparedness Final Rule Webinar Series that can be found here.  In addition, there will be educational sessions around emergency preparedness at the AHCA/NCAL National Convention in Las Vegas, including one on Monday, October 16, 2017, at 3pm entitled “A Case Study in the Use of Human Patient Simulator Technology to Enhance Emergency Preparedness Exercises within Long Term Care Facilities.” More details on this session can be found here.  Another session that you might find of interest will occur on Tuesday, October 17, at 10am in the Mandalay Bay Ballroom L entitled, “Overview and Discussion of the New Emergency Preparedness Requirements.” More information can be found here on this particular session.  Please contact Erin Prendergast (SNF Providers) or Dana Halvorson (ICF/IID Providers) with any questions.

Finally, on Tuesday, September 26, there will be a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Preparedness Webinar Planning for Seniors from 12 - 1pm ET.  Participants will learn, among other things, about tools and information available that can assist older adults and their caregivers when an emergency strikes.  You can register here for this free webinar event.