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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) require nursing facilities to develop and maintain emergency management plans, policies, and procedures to meet all potential emergencies and disasters, such as fire, severe weather, pandemics, and missing residents.  All long-term care facilities must train and educate their employees on emergency procedures, review their plans on a periodic basis, and conduct unannounced drills to test their procedures. 

The evacuation of a long-term care or assisted living facility is an extremely serious task and obviously one that presents significant risks to the residents you are responsible for protecting.  The movement of vulnerable, medically frail individuals who are often bed-ridden, comatose, who have serious medical conditions, cognitive impairment, or who may rely on medical equipment to sustain life, may create serious health repercussions.  In addition, the evacuation of a long-term care facility or assisted living facility during disasters may also include the movement of logistical supplies such as medical records, medications, equipment, and companion animals.

The purpose of this tabletop exercise (TTX) is to provide participants with an opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities for a response to a fire and smoke condition within their long-term care facility that results in a full evacuation of residents.

Learning Objectives:

Within the context of your individual plans, policies and procedures and the listed core capabilities, participants will:

1. Examine your member facility’s ability to implement an internal emergency management system (Incident Command System) during an evacuation event.
2. Evaluate your member facility’s available resources (human, equipment, mutual aid) that are essential to the safe and efficient evacuation of residents during an emergency (fire) event.
3. Explore the internal and external communications systems and networks that will be employed during an emergency evacuation event.
4. David Weidner, MPH, REHS, MEP, CEM
5. David Weidner serves as the Director of Emergency Management for the Health Care Association of New Jersey. Mr. Weidner is responsible for all-hazards emergency preparedness, exercise design and planning, emergency communications and response in support of over 400 long term care facilities across New Jersey. He is a graduate of FEMA’s Master Exercise Practitioner Program, a Certified Emergency Manager and a New Jersey Registered Environmental Health Specialist. Mr. Weidner earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Health Administration from Rutgers University, and his Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

This will be delivered via Zoom including breakout rooms. DHCFA has requested  2 total participant hours from NAB -NCERS and the Delaware Board of Nursing To receive credit, you must attend the entire session.

This session is presented with support from the office of Emergency Medical Services, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health.