Are You Ready for the Emergency Conditions of Participation?

CMS has issued a Final Emergency Preparedness Rule that must be implemented in full by all healthcare providers no later than November 15, 2017.   If your organization hasn’t already done so, it is time to get familiar with and start implementing the new requirements.  Here are a number of excellent resources to get your internal emergency preparedness “swat team” going:

• View the training and testing requirements that must be completed by the November 15, 2017.

• Visit the CMS Emergency Preparedness website.  The website includes resources such as checklists, links to emergency preparedness agencies, planning templates and many other valuable resources to facilitate compliance with the rule. Check it out.

• In Kansas, KDHE is the central coordinating agency on emergency preparedness.  They publish an informative newsletter called the Ready Reader. View the recent issue devoted specifically to long-term care.

• Ready Reader archives and other resources.

• LeadingAge Kansas strongly encourages every member to reach out to get involved with your region’s Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coalition.

• LeadingAge Kansas will be providing webinars and or live education on this topic starting later this spring. Stay tuned.