Updates to the CMS Emergency Management Rules - The Journey Continues

The CMS Emergency Management requirements are focused on three key essentials necessary for maintaining access to healthcare during disasters or emergencies: safeguarding human resources, maintaining business continuity, and protecting physical resources. The audience will review the scope of the CMS Emergency Management Rule with the recent changes.

Planning for emerging infectious diseases may require modification to the facility protocols for early identification, isolation and PPE to protect the health and safety of staff as well as patients. Strategies for implementation related to succession planning and continuity of operations will be discussed. Requirements for alternative sources of power be reviewed and the requirement for senior leadership involvement will be highlighted. There will be some time in the end for Q&A. (~ 10-15 minutes)

• Describe the key updates to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Management Rule
• List strategies for implementation related to succession planning and continuity of operations 
• Discuss the challenges of adding emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the “all hazards” planning
• Detail requirements for medication storage and emergency power review the roles and responsibilities of senior leadership in the oversight of emergency management
• Identify key online resources 

The new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Management Rule became effective as of November 2017 for the 11 categories of providers covered under CMS. It establishes national emergency preparedness requirements for participating providers and certified suppliers to adequately plan for both natural and man-made disasters, and coordinate with Federal, state, tribal, regional and local emergency preparedness systems. Since that time, there have been updates to the requirements as well as a focus on leadership role in emergency management.

“All-hazards” planning, which is the basis for hazard vulnerability assessments and planning, must now include “emerging infectious diseases (EID)” such as influenza, Zika, and Ebola. This may require a change in planning for infectious disease outbreaks, i.e., early identification, supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), larger volumes of infectious waste and disease-specific staff education, that are not included in other planning, mitigation, response, and recovery plans. Other topics requiring greater attention include use of portable generators, tracking of displaced patients, temperature management for medications and supplies, providing care at alternate sites with the requirements for an 1135 waiver, succession planning and continuity of operations.

• Healthcare Leadership/ Senior Leadership responsible for Emergency Management
• Facilities leadership, clinical and non-clinical
• Emergency managers
• Safety directors/managers
• Accreditation Specialists
• System/Divisional Leadership

Marge McFarlane, Ph.D., MT (ASCP), CHFM, CJCP, CHSP, HEM, MEP, brings over 40 years of comprehensive experience in the environment of care, life safety, emergency management and infection prevention for construction. Merge has authored handbooks on the GHS update to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and OSHA training for Medical Facilities. She is a frequent presenter for seminars, regional conferences, and audio conferences on OSHA topics, infection prevention, and hazardous materials/RCRA waste streams and emergency management. She is currently working with healthcare systems and clinics nationally to identify and mitigate risks in the physical environment.

McFarlane holds a Ph.D. in Safety Engineering and master’s degrees in Environmental and Public Health (ENPH) from the UW – Eau Claire and Risk Control from the UW–Stout. She is a member of the Wisconsin Healthcare Engineering Association (WHEA) Code Committee, the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE) and the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS). She is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner and has served as a healthcare subject matter expert for regional, state and national exercises.