Emergency Preparedness and Response Flashcards

What is the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) primarily designed to provide during an emergency?

Answer: A standardized organizational structure for managing hospital emergency response

HICS provides a standardized, scalable organizational structure that allows hospitals to effectively manage their response to emergencies of any type or size.

How often does CMS require healthcare facilities to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise?

Answer: At least once per year

CMS requires healthcare facilities to participate in a full-scale exercise at least annually, with the option to substitute a second exercise with a tabletop exercise.

What is the primary purpose of a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) in emergency preparedness?

Answer: To identify potential emergencies and assess their probability and impact

An HVA identifies potential hazards, assesses their probability of occurrence and potential impact, and helps prioritize emergency preparedness efforts.

During a mass casualty incident, what does the START triage system classify patients with minor injuries as?

Answer: Green (Minor)

In the START triage system, patients with minor injuries who can walk are classified as Green (Minor) and are considered the lowest priority for immediate treatment.

What is surge capacity in the context of healthcare emergency preparedness?

Answer: The ability to manage a sudden influx of patients that exceeds normal operating capacity

Surge capacity refers to a healthcare facility ability to expand beyond normal capacity to handle a sudden, unexpected increase in patient volume during an emergency.

Which communication system is required by CMS for healthcare facilities to contact staff during an emergency?

Answer: A communication plan that includes primary and alternate means of contacting staff

CMS requires facilities to have a communication plan with primary and alternate methods for contacting staff, including provisions for when normal systems fail.

Under NIMS, which term describes the standardized approach to incident management that enables seamless coordination among multiple agencies during a healthcare emergency?

Answer: Incident Command System (ICS)

The Incident Command System (ICS) is the NIMS standardized framework that enables interoperable coordination among multiple agencies and disciplines during emergencies.

A hospital activates its downtime procedures when its electronic health record system fails during a mass casualty event. Which HICS section is primarily responsible for managing clinical operations continuity?

Answer: Operations Section

The Operations Section in HICS directly manages patient care and clinical services, including downtime procedures during system failures.

What is the primary purpose of a Healthcare Coalition (HCC) in regional emergency preparedness?

Answer: To coordinate resources and information sharing among member healthcare organizations

Healthcare Coalitions facilitate resource sharing, coordination, and mutual aid among regional healthcare organizations to enhance collective preparedness and response.

During a hazardous materials incident involving patient decontamination, which level of PPE is required for healthcare workers performing gross decontamination in the warm zone?

Answer: Level C — chemical-resistant suit with APF respirator

Level C PPE (chemical-resistant suit with an air-purifying respirator of appropriate APF) is typically required for healthcare workers performing decontamination in the warm zone.

Which document establishes the legal authority for a hospital to implement crisis standards of care during a declared public health emergency?

Answer: A state-issued emergency declaration and enabling legislation

State-issued emergency declarations and corresponding enabling legislation provide the legal authority for healthcare facilities to implement crisis standards of care that deviate from normal practice.

In the context of healthcare emergency management, what does 'situational awareness' specifically require from the safety professional?

Answer: Continuously gathering, analyzing, and sharing information to understand the current and anticipated state of an incident

Situational awareness requires continuously gathering, analyzing, and sharing real-time information to understand the incident's current state and anticipate its evolution.

A hospital is conducting a functional exercise for its shelter-in-place procedures. Which outcome best indicates a successful exercise?

Answer: Staff demonstrate ability to execute procedures and identified gaps are documented for improvement

A successful exercise demonstrates staff capability to execute procedures while identifying improvement gaps documented in the after-action report and improvement plan.

Which concept describes the threshold at which a healthcare facility transitions from conventional to contingency and ultimately to crisis standards of care during a surge event?

Answer: The continuum of care capacity

The continuum of care capacity (conventional → contingency → crisis) describes how facilities adapt operations as demand exceeds available resources during surge events.

When a hospital's Incident Commander declares an internal disaster, which action should occur FIRST according to HICS principles?

Answer: Activate the Hospital Command Center and notify key leadership

Upon internal disaster declaration, the Hospital Command Center must be activated and key leadership notified first to establish unified command and situational awareness.

A hospital's emergency operations plan must address which four phases of emergency management as required by CMS and The Joint Commission?

Answer: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery

CMS and The Joint Commission require emergency management programs to address all four phases: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

During a prolonged utility failure, which fuel supply requirement does CMS mandate for hospital emergency generators?

Answer: 72-hour supply on-site or a documented resupply agreement

CMS requires hospitals to maintain a 72-hour on-site fuel supply for emergency generators, or have a documented agreement ensuring resupply within that timeframe.

Which risk assessment methodology is MOST commonly used by healthcare facilities to prioritize emergency planning efforts by evaluating the probability and impact of various hazards?

Answer: Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)

The Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) is the standard tool used by healthcare facilities to systematically assess and prioritize risks based on probability, impact, and preparedness.

Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which obligation applies to a hospital during a declared national emergency?

Answer: Hospitals must continue to provide a medical screening exam to anyone presenting for care unless a CMS waiver is granted

EMTALA obligations remain in effect during emergencies unless CMS grants a specific 1135 waiver, which requires a federal and state emergency declaration.

In healthcare emergency preparedness, what is the primary function of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a neighboring facility?

Answer: To pre-establish mutual aid agreements for sharing staff, supplies, and equipment during disasters

MOUs pre-establish mutual aid agreements that legally define the terms for sharing resources — including staff, supplies, and equipment — between facilities during declared emergencies.