CALA CALA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Incident Command System (ICS) used for in an assisted living emergency response?
- A software system for tracking resident incidents
- A standardized management structure that clarifies roles and communication during an emergency (Correct answer)
- A billing system for emergency medical claims
- A database for storing emergency contact numbers
Correct answer: A standardized management structure that clarifies roles and communication during an emergency
ICS is a standardized, scalable management framework that establishes clear command, roles, and communication channels during emergency incidents.
Question 2: Which document should an assisted living facility maintain for each resident to support emergency planning, listing their medical needs and special accommodations?
- Marketing brochure
- Resident profile or individual emergency plan (Correct answer)
- Accounts receivable ledger
- Staff schedule
Correct answer: Resident profile or individual emergency plan
Individual resident emergency profiles or plans document each resident's medical needs, mobility limitations, and special accommodations required during an emergency.
Question 3: What type of hazard analysis should an assisted living facility conduct to identify risks specific to its geographic location?
- Financial risk assessment
- Hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA) (Correct answer)
- Joint Commission accreditation review
- Environmental impact statement
Correct answer: Hazard vulnerability analysis (HVA)
A hazard vulnerability analysis identifies and evaluates the probability and impact of hazards specific to a facility's location, such as floods, hurricanes, or earthquakes.
Question 4: An assisted living facility loses power during a storm. What is the administrator's most critical immediate concern regarding resident safety?
- Notifying the local newspaper
- Ensuring life-safety systems, temperature control, and medical equipment backup power are functioning (Correct answer)
- Posting on the facility website
- Documenting the outage for the annual report
Correct answer: Ensuring life-safety systems, temperature control, and medical equipment backup power are functioning
During a power outage, the administrator must immediately verify that backup generators are powering life-safety systems, medical equipment, and HVAC to maintain resident safety.
Question 5: Which federal law requires facilities to share emergency plans and coordinate with state and local emergency management agencies?
- HIPAA
- CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act
Correct answer: CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule
The CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule requires facilities to develop emergency plans in coordination with state and local emergency management systems and to share plans upon request.
Question 6: What should an assisted living facility's communication plan include during a pandemic or infectious disease outbreak?
- Social media marketing strategy only
- Protocols for communicating with residents, families, staff, regulators, and the public about the outbreak and protective measures (Correct answer)
- Only internal staff memos
- A list of media contacts for press releases
Correct answer: Protocols for communicating with residents, families, staff, regulators, and the public about the outbreak and protective measures
A pandemic communication plan must address timely, accurate communication with residents, families, staff, regulatory agencies, and the public about the situation and protective measures in place.
CALA CALA Emergency Preparedness & Safety 2
What is the Incident Command System (ICS) used for in an assisted living emergency response?