Introduction

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any moment - and they usually occur without warning. When an emergency strikes, our immediate safety and prompt recovery depend on the preparedness levels of our Facility and staff. These Plans are developed in response to our Risk Assessment to provide fundamental information, support, and guidance in the event of an emergency. The Plans describe how our organization will:

• Protect the safety of staff, patients, and visitors.

• Safeguard vital records and resources.

• Coordinate emergency response and recovery procedures.

It is understood that, due to the scenario and/or situation, the intensity of the disaster may increase or decrease during the incident. The Governing Body has the authority to escalate or deactivate the response at the appropriate time. While our Emergency Plans have attempted to address situations in which our organization is most at risk, it is understood that these plans do not replace common sense and cannot cover every emergency our organization and staff may face. Because of this, the following guidelines apply to our organization:

WE WILL MITIGATE AND PREPARE BY:

• Developing and maintaining written comprehensive plans for emergency management.

• Training and educating staff on all aspects of emergency management at the time of hire and routinely thereafter.

• Practicing our preparedness and response through drills and exercises.

• Learning best practices through participation in local healthcare coalition activities.

• Maintaining necessary supplies and back-up systems to maximize safety and operations.

• Monitoring local and national alert systems so that we can receive a warning whenever possible.

WE WILL RESPOND BY:

• Following our Emergency Plans and the local authority.

• Using good judgment and common sense when situations warrant a deviation from the plans.

• Relying on the local authority to provide final guidance on all subjects

WE WILL RECOVER

We intend to stay “Open for Business”. We will seek to maintain and restore operations in any situation. We recognize that “open” may look different depending on the current emergency and may mean open for business operations but not for patients, open for patients and business, operational, but with all team members working remotely, or a combination thereof. LifeCare will always strive to restore normal operations and minimize the impact on our patients and staff.

PLAN AUTHORITY

Emergency plans help you prepare for actual emergencies, but during a crisis or risk situation, the best decision may not align with the written plan. LifeCare will always comply with the authority (local, state, or federal) that may be involved to guide the situation or event, and this guidance will take precedence over any written policy. Within our organization, our Governing Body, COO, and OPT Administrator all have authority to direct or re-direct our company’s response to an emergency.

COMMUNICATION 

LifeCare will maintain communication through primary or alternate means at all times. Essential communication is defined as the activation/deactivation of this plan, critical resource shortages, and hazardous situations. To accomplish this, LifeCare will:

• Monitor local communications through the Broward County and City of Tamarac alert system.

• Keep staff informed of facility closure and/or other changes in services.

• Keep patients informed using signage, phone messages, and/or our website.

It is understood that this information may need to be changed daily.