We are here to help you with your Health System/Hospital COVID-19 Response
This is an unprecedented time and healthcare organizations across the country are activating and executing their Emergency Operations Plans in response the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be especially challenging for healthcare facilities across the country, and the world. As such, hospitals are taking unprecedented actions to ensure the safety and health of their patients, staff, and visitors while maintaining daily operations. As hospitals continue to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19, this pandemic has stressed day-to-day emergency preparedness efforts and emergency operations. 

For over 40 years we have been side-by-side with many of those healthcare organizations to prepare for such a response, and we want you to know that we are still here for you. With local on-site response (with limited travel to the facility when permitted) , and with comprehensive remote support for corporate entities or individual facilities, we are ready to continue to stand by and support the healthcare industry.

These are uncertain times, and for many this is a unique experience for emergency response, documentation, and ongoing operations. If you have any questions or if we can assist you in any way, our Healthcare Emergency Management experts are available for consultation.

We will also be providing free resources to support you during this emergency response. Updates will follow regarding information bulletins, webinars and podcasts!!

We have a variety of specific services available, but please contact us directly to discuss your individual needs.
Some of the ways we can help your facility at this difficult time:
Catastrophic Surge Capacity Assessment
With the COVID-19 response, hospitals have identified the need to plan for the rapid expansion of patient space within their facilities. RPA’s Catastrophic Surge Capacity Program conducts an assessment with facilities to identify:
  • Space: Specific spaces and areas that can be used in the event of a patient surge. Factors to consider include long-term surge, continuity of care, and overall life safety.
  • Staff: Staffing requirements for identified surge areas. Staff-to-patient ratios, staff recall processes, and emergency credentialing & privileging should be considered.
  • Staff: Identification of the number of beds and equipment required to surge the identified areas.
  • Systems: Establishing and reviewing the policies and procedures that should be followed or adopted in the event of a patient surge.

Our approach is modified to accommodate the current reality that our onsite surveys may not be possible, but still provide the information you need:
  • Initial/immediate remote assistance and counsel.
  • If travel to the hospital is approved, we will conduct an onsite assessment.
  • If the onsite assessment is not approved, we will provide remote support and guide onsite staff to complete a self-assessment to provide us the information.
  • We will document, develop, and provide the reports and unit/area surge plan. 
  • (Optional) When approved, we will complete the full onsite assessment to finalize the surge program.
Remote Event Reporting and After-Action Reports (AAR) and Improvement Plans
CMS, the Joint Commission, DNV and all AOs require your event to be properly documented, and if properly documented, healthcare facilities can use this “actual event” as one of the two required exercises. We will: 
  • Provide initial consultation to ensure your facility is establishing the correct cadence and documentation of the event response.
  • During the event, provide routine touch points to ensure continuity of documentation.
  • Post-event, our consultants work with your facility team to review your response to actual events, gain an understanding of strengths and weaknesses identified as part of the facility response, identify any necessary plan or process improvements, and document this into an AAR and Improvement Plan.

Note: Additional fees may apply for multi-location health systems and individual hospitals greater than 300 beds.
Remote or local onsite response (limited travel onsite response, as possible) for Hospital Command Center / Incident Management Team
As the COVID-19 response has an indirect impact on regulatory compliance surrounding emergency preparedness, current events most certainly have a direct impact on emergency operations. As hospitals begin to active their Emergency Operations Plans and subsequently their Hospital Command Centers, Incident Management Teams will primarily be focused on operations accomplishing their goals and objectives.  

We stand ready to assist our clients with remote Incident Management Team Support. Our Subject Matter Experts will:
  • Facilitate and Manage the documentation / workflow of the Incident Management Team.
  • Work with the Incident Commander on the development of Incident Action Plans in each operational period.
  • Track & trend information and maintain the appropriate documentation.
  • Develop an AAR post-event with lessons learned, improvement plans, and all the corresponding documentation. 
  • Provide AAR support consistent with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). 
To engage in any of the above programs please:

 
*Following the COVID-19 crisis RPA will resume normal operations and project scope and deliverables.
RPA, a Jensen Hughes Company |  Phone: 1-585-223-1130 | www.phillipsllc.com