Is Your Facility ReadyCMS Emergency Preparedness Requirements

Course overview

Disasters can strike at any time and with little warning where the event’s severity, scope, nature, often overcome the organization’s ability to manage and/or respond with the resources necessary to protect the health and welfare of residents. Facility leadership is critical in developing and deploying effective and innovative multi-disciplinary disaster response to ensure reducing losses, protecting lives, and a quicker recovery. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began enforcing Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers requiring skilled nursing facilities to assess facility risks, improve their planning and response, and strengthen their training regime. This program will explore the CMS requirements and guidance to surveyors (Appendix Z) including the requirements for facilities to perform a hazard risk assessment that uses an "all-hazards" approach to successfully establish an effective emergency program. It will also review the critical components of a facility’s communications plan including the implementation of the most effective response though the Nursing Home Incident Command System.