Summary: The Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert to help healthcare organizations prepare for environmental disasters with actionable strategies for evacuation and sheltering in place. The alert emphasizes updating emergency plans, building resilience, and practicing disaster scenarios to protect patient safety and care delivery.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sentinel Event Alert provides essential steps for preparing for weather-related disasters, including updating emergency plans and developing communication infrastructure.
  • Adhering to The Joint Commission’s emergency management standards helps healthcare organizations ensure safety and maintain essential care during disasters.

To support healthcare organizations in implementing proactive risk management strategies, The Joint Commission has issued the Sentinel Event Alert, “Environmental disasters: Preparing to safely evacuate or shelter in place.” This alert outlines steps for healthcare organizations to prepare for weather and climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, and extreme heat.

Rising Costs and Fatalities from Natural Disasters

The United States has experienced 396 weather and climate disasters in recent years, resulting in over $2.78 trillion in damages and 2,101 fatalities since January 2020. Healthcare organizations must be equipped to rapidly evacuate or shelter in place during such emergencies to ensure the safety of patients, workers, and others on-site.

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Joint Commission Emergency Management (EM) standards require healthcare organizations to maintain a comprehensive EM program capable of responding to any type of emergency using an all-hazards approach. This systematic structure aids planning and decision-making for environmental disasters.

The Sentinel Event Alert suggests the following actions for healthcare organizations to enhance preparedness for safe evacuation or sheltering in place:

  • Revisit and update emergency plans.
  • Establish and build collaborative relationships.
  • Develop a resilient communications infrastructure.
  • Plan how to meet essential needs and provide care to staff and patients.
  • Plan and practice how to evacuate and shelter in place.

“As we witness the devastating impact of recent hurricanes in Florida, we remember the critical importance of emergency preparedness,” said Elizabeth Mort, MD, MPH, vice president and chief medical officer, The Joint Commission. “Disasters of this magnitude can compromise patient safety and disrupt essential care if healthcare organizations do not have the necessary resources and strategies to respond to these emergencies effectively. The recommendations listed in the Sentinel Event Alert, as well as The Joint Commission’s related requirements on emergency management, can help healthcare organizations protect patients and healthcare workers during an environmental disaster.”