Safety

Hospitals may not have practical staffing plans for alternate care sites

Hospital Safety Connection, December 19, 2007

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Hospital Safety Connection!

In a weird dichotomy, poll results indicate that 76% of hospitals have developed plans for alternate care sites during an emergency, but only 20% of those facilities have realistic staffing plans for those alternate sites.

Trust for America's Health reported these results, which the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology collected from 630 of its members. The statistics are part of a larger Trust for America's Health report titled, Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism 2007.

"This dissonance between planning for alternative care sites while failing to have personnel plans appropriate to a surge in patients reveals major shortcomings in U.S. hospital planning," the report's overview states.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Hospital Safety Connection!

    Hospital Safety Center
  • Hospital Safety Center

    Improve compliance with hospital safety standards from The Joint Commission, OSHA, and other regulators with this...

  • Healthcare Life Safety Compliance

    Learn Life Safety Code tips and interpretations for healthcare facilities with this in-depth monthly resource.

  • Hospital Safety Connection

    Stay on top of hospital safety requirements and best practices with our free, fast-paced weekly update.

  • Administering Your OSHA Program

    This course will help an employee new to the role of OSHA safety officer. It gives an overview of OSHA requirements and...

  • Medical OSHA Manual Combo

    Get into compliance with Quality America's OSHA Safety Program Manual and stay in compliance with OSHA Watch Newsletter...

Most Popular

Related Articles