H1N1 Emergency Declaration and EMTALA:
Oct 25, 2009 CMS information on implications of declaration on HIPAA and EMTALA regulations.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Cedar Rapids Hospital Evacuated:
Jun 13, 2008 Sandbagging volunteers, including this site's web-techy Jordan Frew, worked until 2 AM Friday trying to save Cedar Rapids' Mercy Hospital from flood waters that have engulfed more than 100 city blocks to chest-deep levels, until officials determined that evacuation of the facility was required.
California Hospitals Cannot Meet Earthquake Preparedness Law:
Jan 21, 2007 Thirteen years after the devastating Northridge earthquake, a new analysis shows that almost half of California hospitals will not meet seismic safety standards by a 2013 state deadline, according to a report released today by the California HealthCare Foundation.
Emergency Services: First Line of Defense:
Dec 4, 2006 The following are some safety precautions for the consideration of incident commanders and safety officers to protect the personnel infrastructure of responding organizations. These recommendations were abridged from the Emergency Response to Terrorism Job Aid, Edition 2.0, 2003, published jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, and Department of Justice:
Disaster Planning Tip -- Don't Plan On Full Staffing:
Apr 21, 2006 Many of your staff will not show up in an emergency, and those that are there may go home according to a survey conducted by the Center for Public Health Preparedness at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Is Your Disaster Plan Consistent With The Community Plan?:
Apr 20, 2006 Most hospitals create disaster plans in isolation -- plans that assume all problems will be handled in a few hours to a day, and that they have access to all the ambulances they may need and people to help. WRONG.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Report From The Hurricane Zone -- It Is Not Over:
Apr 19, 2006 My assessment is that this area will need a lot of help for up to 3 years to regain normal function, but what I saw in New Orleans makes me wonder whether my favorite town will ever recover...it certainly won't be for many years. Much of the flavor of the town will be gone, that is certain.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Help For Hospital Emergency Planning:
Apr 4, 2006 Many hospitals attempt to plan internally for community disasters without getting involved with the over-all community plan -- and often this leads to "disasterous disaster plans".
Protecting Your Response Force To Terrorist Incidents:
Feb 13, 2006 Three main categories of coordinated terrorist incidents to help ESS departments and agencies plan, train, and organize
ACEP Calls For 10-Point Plan For Disaster Preparedness:
Feb 9, 2006 Increase the surge capacity of ED's by ending the practice of "boarding" patients in the ED's and create funding strategies for surge capacity in inpatient and intensive care units.
Louisianna Declined Assistance Prior To Katrina Land-Fall:
Feb 6, 2006 A prominent Louisiana health official allegedly declined an offer of federal assistance in moving or evacuating patients and residents just before Hurricane Katrina hit
JCAHO Proposes Standard For Emergency Generator Test -- Comments:
Jan 31, 2006 You have until February 20th to make your opinions known on a proposed change in the Evironment of Care standards from JCAHO
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
Even Remote Hospitals Have Big Hazards:
Jan 30, 2006 If your hospital or EMS system does not really believe a disaster could involve its operations, check this out.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
SAMPLE COUNTY EMS COUNCIL DIVERSION POLICY:
Jan 24, 2006 Sample EMS diversion policy language that is intended to be functionally feasible and in compliance with EMTALA standards for hospitals.
By Stephen A. Frew JD.
New Website Portal For Storm Imagery Speeds Rescue Operations:
Jan 18, 2006 A new Hurricane Crisis Web portal now helps all national and local government agencies coordinate disaster relief, clean-up and re-construction.
