Virginia Administrative Code › Title 12 - HEALTH › Agency 35 - DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES › Chapter 105 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR LICENSING PROVIDERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES › Part III - Administrative Services › Article 5 - Health and Safety Management › Section 12VAC35-105-530 - Emergency preparedness and response plan

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. The provider shall develop a written
					 emergency preparedness and response plan for all of its services and locations
					 that describes its approach to emergencies throughout the organization or
					 community. This plan shall include an analysis of potential emergencies that
					 could disrupt the normal course of service delivery including emergencies that
					 would require expanded or extended care over a prolonged period of time. The
					 plan shall address:
1. Specific procedures
					 describing mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies,
					 actions, and responsibilities for each emergency.
2. Documentation of coordination with the
					 local emergency authorities to determine local disaster risks and
					 community-wide plans to address different disasters and emergency
					 situations.
3. The process for
					 notifying local and state authorities of the emergency and a process for
					 contacting staff when emergency response measures are initiated.
4. Written emergency management policies
					 outlining specific responsibilities for provision of administrative direction
					 and management of response activities, coordination of logistics during the
					 emergency, communications, life safety of employees, contractors, students,
					 volunteers, visitors, and individuals receiving services, property protection,
					 community outreach, and recovery and restoration.
5. Written emergency response procedures for
					 initiating the response and recovery phase of the plan including a description
					 of how, when, and by whom the phases will be activated. This includes assessing
					 the situation; protecting individuals receiving services, employees,
					 contractors, students, volunteers, visitors, equipment, and vital records; and
					 restoring services. Emergency procedures shall address:
a. Warning and notifying individuals
					 receiving services;
b.
					 Communicating with employees, contractors, and community responders;
c. Designating alternative roles and
					 responsibilities of staff during emergencies including to whom they will report
					 in the provider's organization command structure and when activated in the
					 community's command structure;
d.
					 Providing emergency access to secure areas and opening locked doors;
e. Evacuation procedures, including for
					 individuals who need evacuation assistance;
f. Conducting evacuations to emergency
					 shelters or alternative sites and accounting for all individuals receiving
					 services;
g. Relocating individuals
					 receiving residential or inpatient services, if necessary;
h. Notifying family members or authorized
					 representatives;
i. Alerting
					 emergency personnel and sounding alarms;
j. Locating and shutting off utilities when
					 necessary; and
k. Maintaining a 24
					 hour telephone answering capability to respond to emergencies for individuals
					 receiving services.
6.
					 Processes for managing the following under emergency conditions:
a. Activities related to the provision of
					 care, treatment, and services including scheduling, modifying, or discontinuing
					 services; controlling information about individuals receiving services;
					 providing medication; and transportation services;
b. Logistics related to critical supplies
					 such as pharmaceuticals, food, linen, and water;
c. Security including access, crowd control,
					 and traffic control; and
d. Back-up
					 communication systems in the event of electronic or power failure.
7. Specific processes and
					 protocols for evacuation of the provider's building or premises when the
					 environment cannot support adequate care, treatment, and services.
8. Supporting documents that would be needed
					 in an emergency, including emergency call lists, building and site maps
					 necessary to shut off utilities, designated escape routes, and list of major
					 resources such as local emergency shelters.
9. Schedule for testing the implementation of
					 the plan and conducting emergency preparedness drills. Fire and evacuation
					 drills shall be conducted at least monthly.