Facilities in FEMA high-risk zones should assess whether PBJ reported staffing levels reflect the capacity needed to carry out evacuation and emergency response plans.
Nursing Homes Reported Widespread Barriers to Emergency Preparedness
“We found that even those nursing homes that meet the Federal requirements for emergency preparedness face challenges with critical aspects of emergency preparedness.
Although most nursing homes met Federal emergency preparedness requirements, an estimated 77 percent reported challenges with preparedness activities intended to ensure that resident care needs are met during an emergency. The most frequently cited concerns among nursing homes were ensuring proper staffing during emergencies and transporting residents during evacuations.”
Office of Inspector General. “Nursing Homes Reported Widespread Barriers to Emergency Preparedness.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 6 Sept. 2023, oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-06-22-00100.pdf.
OIG: Nursing Homes Hard-Pressed To Meet Resident Needs in Emergencies Due To Staffing
“Nursing homes explained that some of the challenges associated with emergencies were rooted in broader staffing shortages that existed year-round and were compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some nursing homes described ongoing difficulties with staffing shortages, such as having to rely on external staffing agencies to fill vacancies, which is very expensive. These underlying staffing challenges raise concerns about how nursing homes will be able to effectively respond to an emergency.”
— Skilled Nursing News, September 6, 2023
Nursing Homes Reveal Widespread Emergency Planning Barriers in New OIG Report
“The most commonly reported challenges were receiving commitments from enough staff to assist with evacuations and mitigating or addressing staff burnout in the event of an emergency. Nursing homes explained that some of the challenges associated with emergencies were rooted in broader staffing shortages that existed year-round and were compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. … These underlying staffing challenges raise concerns about how nursing homes will be able to effectively respond to an emergency.”
— McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, September 6, 2023
