Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T19:55:33.827Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Disaster Preparedness and Pandemic Plans: A Survey of Nebraska Home Health Agencies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2013

Michele D. Kassmeier ,
Sharon Medcalf ,
Keith Hansen  and
Philip W. Smith
Michele D. Kassmeier*
Affiliation:
Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Sharon Medcalf
Affiliation:
Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Keith Hansen
Affiliation:
Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Philip W. Smith
Affiliation:
Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michele Kassmeier, Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Maurer Center for Public Health, Rm 1043, Omaha, NE 68198-4320. (e-mail Michele.Kassmeier@unmc.edu)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

To develop a tool that assesses disaster-planning strategies used by Home Health Agencies (HHAs) throughout Nebraska.

Methods

A survey of HHAs in Nebraska was created, distributed, and analyzed to assess and gain information about their written disaster plans. Part 1 of this 2-part survey identified agencies with written disaster plans and collected basic information about plan and structure. Part 2 identified detailed characteristics of the HHA and their pandemic influenza plans. Also, pandemic influenza preparedness of HHAs was assessed and compared to other health care institutions.

Results

More than 90% of the HHAs that responded to the survey reported that they have written disaster plans; almost half of the plans address strategies for surge capacity. The majority of HHAs with plans also have disaster-specific plans for pandemic influenza preparedness. Our findings suggest that Nebraska HHAs have taken substantial steps toward preparedness, although individual plans may vary considerably.

Conclusions

This survey provides a first step at evaluating HHA disaster preparedness plans. It also demonstrates that Nebraska HHAs have taken substantial steps toward being prepared, although individual plans vary widely. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;0:1–9)

Keywords

home healthemergency preparednessdisaster plan
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , April 2013 , pp. 182 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Kaji, A, Koenig, KL, Bey, T. Surge capacity for healthcare systems: a conceptual framework. Acad Emerg Med. 2006;13(11):1157-1159.Google Scholar
2.Hick, JL, Hanfling, D, Burstein, JL, etal. Health care facility and community strategies for patient care surge capacity. Ann Emerg Med. 2004;44(3):253-261.Google Scholar
3.Rebmann, T, Citarella, B, Subramaniam, DS, Subramaniam, DP. A home health agency's pandemic preparedness and experience with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Am J Infect Control. 2011;39(9):725-731.Google Scholar
4.Baron, S, McPhaul, K, Phillips, S, Gershon, R, Lipscomb, J. Protecting home health care workers: a challenge to pandemic influenza preparedness planning. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(Suppl. 2):S301-S307.Google Scholar
5.Rebmann, T, Citarella, B, Alexander, S, Russell, B, Volkman, JC. Personal protective equipment use and allocation in home health during disasters. Am J Infect Control. 2011;39(10):823-831.Google Scholar
6.Citarella, BB. Recognition for home care's role in disaster preparedness: our time has come…but are we ready for it? Caring. 2008;27(6):16-19.Google Scholar
7.Rebmann, T, Citarella, B, Subramaniam, DP, Subramaniam, DS. Assessing the infection prevention components of home health emergency management plans. Am J Infect Control. 2011;39(10):849-857.Google Scholar
8.McDonald, MV. Pandemic influenza preparedness planning in the home care environment. Home Healthc Nurse. 2009;27(8):460-461.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Citarella, BB, Mueller, CJ, Tosh, M. Syndromic surveillance, disaster preparedness & home care: is there a connection? Caring. 2004;23(9):18-21.Google ScholarPubMed
10.Department of Health and Human Services Nebraska. State of Nebraska, roster, home health agencies. Department of Health and Human Services Nebraska website. http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/. Accessed July 2011.Google Scholar
11.Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Home care. Joint Commission Resources. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; October 12, 2012.Google Scholar
12.US Department of Homeland Security. Disaster Planning Guide for Home Health Care Providers. Washington, DC: US Department of Homeland Security; January 2008.Google Scholar
13.Smith, PW, Hansen, K, Sayles, H, Brodersen, B, Medcalf, S. A long-term care facility pandemic influenza preparedness planning assessment tool. Am J Disaster Med. 2011;6(4):219-230.Google Scholar
14.Smith, PW, Shostrom, V, Smith, A, Kaufmann, M, Mody, L. Preparedness for pandemic influenza in nursing homes: a 2-state survey. JAMA. 2008;300(4):392-394.Google Scholar
15.Smith, PW, Smith, AW, Meza, JL. Influenza preparedness in Nebraska assisted living facilities. Biosecur Bioterror. 2009;7(4):429-432.Google Scholar
16.Eberspacher, KD. Nebraska accredited home care. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations website. http://www.jointcommission.org/state_recognition/state_recognition_details.aspx?ps=100&s=NE&b=45Google Scholar
17.Burke, RV, Goodhue, CJ, Chokshi, NK, Upperman, JS. Factors associated with willingness to respond to a disaster: a study of healthcare workers in a tertiary setting. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2011;26(4):244-250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Federal Emergency Management Agency. The National Response Framework. US Department of Homeland Security website. http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/. Accessed October, 11, 2011.Google Scholar
19.Chan, TC, Griswold, WG, Buono, C, etal. Impact of wireless electronic medical record system on the quality of patient documentation by emergency field responders during a disaster mass-casualty exercise. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2011;26(4):268-275.Google Scholar
20.Rodriguez, D, Long, CO. Emergency preparedness for the home healthcare nurse. Home Healthc Nurse. 2006;24(1):20-27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Smith, M, Smith, PW. Hospital preparedness in Nebraska: a pandemic influenza survey. Am J Disaster Med. 2009;4(5):299-302.Google Scholar
22.Kaji, AH, Koenig, KL, Lewis, RJ. Current hospital disaster preparedness. JAMA. 2007;298(18):2188-2190.Google Scholar
23.Theofilou, P. Communication among healthcare professionals: a central factor in patient outcome. J Nursing Care. 2011;1(1):1000e101.Google Scholar
24.Fitch, C. Home Health Care: An Impacted Agency's Story. Omaha, ND: The Center for Preparedness Education; 2011.Google Scholar
25.Epstein, RH, Ekbatani, A, Kaplan, J, Shechter, R, Grunwald, Z. Development of a staff recall system for mass casualty incidents using cell phone text messaging. Anesth Analg. 2010;110(3):871-878.Google Scholar
26.Slepski, LA. Emergency preparedness and professional competency among health care providers during hurricanes katrina and rita: pilot study results. Disaster Manag Response. 2007;5(4):99-110.Google Scholar
27.Daugherty, EL, Speck, KA, Rand, CS, Perl, TM. Perceptions and influence of a hospital influenza vaccination policy. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2011;32(5):449-455.Google Scholar
28.Rakita, RM, Hagar, BA, Crome, P, Lammert, JK. Mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers: a 5-year study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010;31(9):881-888.Google Scholar
29.Babcock, HM, Gemeinhart, N, Jones, M, Dunagan, WC, Woeltje, KF. Mandatory influenza vaccination of health care workers: translating policy to practice. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50(4):459-464.Google Scholar