Long-Term Care

Nursing homes lack emergency response plan

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly, September 5, 2006

The journal Health Affairs published a study on the long-term care "Hurricane Summit" conducted by the John A. Hartford Foundation and sponsored by the Florida Health Care Association. The summit addressed the issues nursing homes faced during the 2005 hurricane season, with an emphasis on Hurricane Katrina. During the 2005 hurricane season, nursing homes lacked an emergency response system, according to the study. It suggested that nursing homes coordinate with emergency management structures and develop resident evacuation decision-making criteria and guidelines. Nursing homes should also implement a resident tracking and case management system, and develop and refine disaster preparedness guides, the study advised.

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