Emergency preparedness is an essential, but at times undervalued aspect of an ambulatory surgery center's operations. Not having an emergency action plan in place and not training staff members to effectively face disaster when it strikes could prove fatal for a facility.
An ASCs' first and most important goal is providing high quality care and ensuring patient safety. An emergency or disaster could threaten this fundamental objective. These situations manifest themselves in a number of different forms — from natural disasters to a building fire or loss of a utility system.
Federal regulators are also taking emergency preparedness more seriously. At the end of 2013, CMS proposed expanding emergency preparedness requirements, under which providers including ASCs, would be required to develop an emergency plan as well as develop and maintain training and testing programs.
It is important that ASCs incorporate drills and simulation-based training into their emergency preparedness plan in addition to educating staff members. "Simulation-based training increases emergency preparedness through deliberate practice using clinically-based scenarios to represent 'real world' situations," said Laurie Deihs, RN, assistant director of education for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care during a webinar hosted by AAAHC in June 2015.
Additionally, Ms. Deihs notes ASCs should also perform risk assessments, considering the ASC's specific patient demographics, facility issues and the rates of inclement weather.
Learn more about emergency preparedness and crisis management during a webinar hosted by Becker's ASC Review and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care on May 5 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST.