FHCA Web Site

Emergency Preparedness for Nursing Homes

New Emergency Preparedness Tools
Since 2006, Florida Health Care Association has been working on a new set of national emergency preparedness tools for nursing homes through funding by The John A. Hartford Foundation with the support of the Florida Department of Health. Many of Florida's and the Gulf Coast region's best and brightest in long term care generously participated in the development of these tools.

These new tools, released in 2008, introduce nursing home providers to the latest national concepts and practices in emergency planning and response in order to protect residents and staff from environmental and man-made threats and to minimize their impact on operations.

How to use this site
Nursing home administrators, corporate representatives, owners, and key staff will be able to use this site's tools to:

Develop a brand new emergency plan
Compare existing plans to elements and format shown in the new products
Use the tools as a gateway for independent study and discussion points for staff

These tools may be used separately or in tandem. They are closely linked with one another and users will recognize similarities between the products. Planners may create a new emergency plan by using either the software or the guide, or first reading the guide for information and then using the software to build their own new emergency plan.

Pricing, Citation, and Permission
These tools are offered at no charge, or for a fee, depending on which and how the materials are accessed. While users are asked to cite the source appropriately, there is no limitation or restriction on nursing homes using and sharing these materials freely in the development of their plans. Persons may not use any part of these materials for financial gain unless they have first obtained written permission from Florida Health Care Association.

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Software Application for Nursing Homes
This CD-based application will assist administrators and lead staff in the development of emergency preparedness plans using a computer-guided process. Click for Video Tour.

Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes
This guide provides an established format for developing a basic plan, offers direction for developing standard operating procedures for use during an emergency, and addresses specific hazards which may threaten a facility.

Emergency Preparedness Training and Exercise Guide for Nursing Homes
This guide's concepts and step-by-step planning process are designed to assist nursing homes to become proficient in developing, conducting, and evaluating preparedness exercises that meet the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program standards.

The Nursing Home Incident Command System
An Incident Command System designed for nursing homes emerged from work funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation (2006-2008) and, more recently, the Florida Department of Health. Developed by the Florida Health Care Association, the Florida Department of Health, and member nursing home providers and experts, the Nursing Home Incident Command System uses the national Incident Command System as an overlay to existing nursing home emergency management systems, resulting in an organizational system which respects both. Available as a separate download and is a component of the Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes.

National Criteria for Evacuation Decision-Making in Nursing Homes
A first of its kind, the criteria supports nursing home administrators, regional representatives, and owners in identifying external and internal triggers that contribute to a decision to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Available as a separate download and is a component of the Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes.

Caring for Vulnerable Elders: National Findings of the 2007 Nursing Home Hurricane Summit
In May 2007, sixty-five national and state leaders from long term care, emergency management, transportation, energy, medicine and state and federal regulatory agencies convened at St. Pete Beach, Florida for the second Southeastern Nursing Home Hurricane Summit, hosted by the Florida Health Care Association and sponsored with the John A. Hartford Foundation. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas health care executives and their emergency operations partners, nursing home owners, administrators, physicians and clinicians discussed their disaster planning and recovery experiences and goals for the future.

Key Findings

Helpful Emergency Preparedness On-line Resources

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration Emergency Management Planning Criteria (AHCA 3110-6006)

Project Partners

Additional Emergency Preparedness Publications

The photos and images on the www.fhca.org website are the property of Florida Health Care Association and cannot be used in any manner without FHCA permission in writing.


Home About FHCA Advancing Excellence Contact Us Emergency Preparedness Family Forum FHCA Florida Leaders Assisted Living Job Board Members Only Member Search Membership Online Store Press Center Quality Credentialing Seminars/Events Sites of Interest Treasure our Elders What's New	Emergency Preparedness Emergency Preparedness for Nursing Homes New Emergency Preparedness Tools Since 2006, Florida Health Care Association has been working on a new set of national emergency preparedness tools for nursing homes through funding by The John A. Hartford Foundation with the support of the Florida Department of Health. Many of Florida's and the Gulf Coast region's best and brightest in long term care generously participated in the development of these tools. These new tools, released in 2008, introduce nursing home providers to the latest national concepts and practices in emergency planning and response in order to protect residents and staff from environmental and man-made threats and to minimize their impact on operations. How to use this site Nursing home administrators, corporate representatives, owners, and key staff will be able to use this site's tools to: Develop a brand new emergency plan Compare existing plans to elements and format shown in the new products Use the tools as a gateway for independent study and discussion points for staff These tools may be used separately or in tandem. They are closely linked with one another and users will recognize similarities between the products. Planners may create a new emergency plan by using either the software or the guide, or first reading the guide for information and then using the software to build their own new emergency plan. Pricing, Citation, and Permission These tools are offered at no charge, or for a fee, depending on which and how the materials are accessed. While users are asked to cite the source appropriately, there is no limitation or restriction on nursing homes using and sharing these materials freely in the development of their plans. Persons may not use any part of these materials for financial gain unless they have first obtained written permission from Florida Health Care Association. Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Software Application for Nursing Homes This CD-based application will assist administrators and lead staff in the development of emergency preparedness plans using a computer-guided process. Click for Video Tour. Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes This guide provides an established format for developing a basic plan, offers direction for developing standard operating procedures for use during an emergency, and addresses specific hazards which may threaten a facility. Emergency Preparedness Training and Exercise Guide for Nursing Homes This guide's concepts and step-by-step planning process are designed to assist nursing homes to become proficient in developing, conducting, and evaluating preparedness exercises that meet the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program standards. The Nursing Home Incident Command System An Incident Command System designed for nursing homes emerged from work funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation (2006-2008) and, more recently, the Florida Department of Health. Developed by the Florida Health Care Association, the Florida Department of Health, and member nursing home providers and experts, the Nursing Home Incident Command System uses the national Incident Command System as an overlay to existing nursing home emergency management systems, resulting in an organizational system which respects both. Available as a separate download and is a component of the Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes. National Criteria for Evacuation Decision-Making in Nursing Homes A first of its kind, the criteria supports nursing home administrators, regional representatives, and owners in identifying external and internal triggers that contribute to a decision to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Available as a separate download and is a component of the Emergency Management Guide for Nursing Homes. Caring for Vulnerable Elders: National Findings of the 2007 Nursing Home Hurricane Summit In May 2007, sixty-five national and state leaders from long term care, emergency management, transportation, energy, medicine and state and federal regulatory agencies convened at St. Pete Beach, Florida for the second Southeastern Nursing Home Hurricane Summit, hosted by the Florida Health Care Association and sponsored with the John A. Hartford Foundation. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas health care executives and their emergency operations partners, nursing home owners, administrators, physicians and clinicians discussed their disaster planning and recovery experiences and goals for the future. Key Findings Helpful Emergency Preparedness On-line Resources Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration Emergency Management Planning Criteria (AHCA 3110-6006) Project Partners Additional Emergency Preparedness Publications OIG Report, August 2006: Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness and Response During Recent Hurricanes GAO Briefing, 2/16/06: Disaster Preparedness, Preliminary Observations on the Evacuation of Hospitals and Nursing Homes Due to Hurricanes, Briefing for Congressional Committees GAO Status Report, April 2008: Status of Implementation of GAO Recommendations on Evacuation of Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations and Patients and Residents of Health Care Facilities Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Recommended Tool for Effective Health Care Facility Planning by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The photos and images on the www.fhca.org website are the property of Florida Health Care Association and cannot be used in any manner without FHCA permission in writing.