The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation (SLCR) conducted the fifth annual Emergency Preparedness Survey of all licensed long-term care homes in Missouri. SLCR received 538 completed surveys and would like to thank the homes that responded. For the first time, SLCR also conducted an Emergency Generator Survey that asked specific questions regarding a home’s electrical generator capacity. 819 long-term care homes completed this survey. SLCR welcomes any questions concerning the surveys or emergency preparedness planning at 573-522-1333. The new report is available on our website, please visit http://health.mo.gov/seniors/nursinghomes/providerinfo.php.
Category: Emergency/Disaster Planning
New Generations – Summer 2013 Quarterly Newsletter
The Section for Long-Term Care has published New Generations – Volume 11, Issue 3, Summer 2013. This issue is now available on our website, along with an archive of previous newsletters. Please visit http://health.mo.gov/seniors/nursinghomes/providerinfo.php.
Missouri’s New Time Critical Diagnosis (TCD) System
TRAUMA – STROKE – HEART ATTACK
Missouri’s emergency medical response system saves thousands of lives every year, and now improvements will assist health care providers in providing quicker, more coordinated responses when victims of medical emergencies dial 911.
The new TCD System was developed in partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Missouri Foundation for Health and other health-related organizations and health care professionals throughout the state.
To learn more about the improvements, please visit health.mo.gov/tcdsystem. You may share this life-saving information by distributing the printable publications located here to members of your organization.
Emergency Generator Online Survey
Emergency Generator Survey data collection 80% complete
You may complete the online survey at https://webapp03.dhss.mo.gov/snapwebhost/surveylogin.asp?k=134426740643.
In a situation where electricity is disrupted it is helpful for emergency planners to know which nursing homes have back-up generators and perhaps more importantly, which do not have back-up generators. This web-based survey asks whether you have an emergency generator (or not), its fuel type, your ability to connect a temporary generator and other data helpful in an emergency situation. This data can be valuable to DHSS and your local emergency planners in their preparedness plans, but the data collection is not yet complete. If you have not completed the generator survey, please help us by doing so now. At the end of the survey, you will have an opportunity to “opt out” of sharing this data with other emergency preparedness agencies if you prefer.
Please remember that since different levels of care may be housed in different buildings or may have different electrical service, we need a separate survey for each licensed level of care. Also, if you have had a significant change in your generator set-up since completing the survey, or if you do not remember if you completed the survey, please contact Melissa Hope, Planner II, at (573) 522-1333 or send an email to Melissa.hope@health.mo.gov.
Thank you for your participation in this effort.
Winter Weather Information
Great Central U.S. ShakeOut
Emergency Preparedness – February 7, 2013: Drop, Cover, and Hold On
LTC Bulletin Autumn 2012
The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation has published the LTC Bulletin – Volume 10, Issue 3, Fall 2012 newsletter. Please visit http://health.mo.gov/seniors/nursinghomes/providerinfo.php.
Emergency Generator Survey
Does your home have an emergency generator? Is your home’s electrical system pre-wired to accept a temporary emergency generator? Knowing your status in advance of an emergency can be vital to responders and to recovery efforts.
Due date extended – if your home has not submitted the survey yet, please support this community emergency preparedness effort by completing the online survey. This survey will provide quick access to vital information about your home in the event of an emergency.
Click here to complete the Emergency Generator Survey
The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), Section for Long-Term Care Regulation, is gathering emergency generator information for all licensed long-term care homes in the state as part of our emergency preparedness and planning objectives. Our intention is to gather information in advance, since communication during a disaster (like the Joplin tornado) may be impossible or could be disruptive to a facility focused on caring for residents. This data will give DHSS the ability to quickly provide information during an actual emergency to governing bodies and to the DHSS Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism to coordinate with responding agencies so that they may identify the most vulnerable populations first. Homes that do not complete the survey will be contacted. If you have any questions regarding the Emergency Generator Survey, please contact Melissa Hope at 573-522-1333 or email: Melissa.Hope@health.mo.gov.
CMS Life Safety Code Reminders
- Fire extinguishers should not be mounted over five feet from the floor to the top of the extinguisher
Fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 5 feet above the floor. Fire extinguishers having a gross weight greater than 40 pounds shall be so installed that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than 3 ½ feet above the floor. In no case shall the clearance between the bottom of the fire extinguisher and the floor be less than 4 inches. 1998 NFPA 10, 1-6.10.
- A facility which allows smoking needs to have a metal container with a self-closing cover provided in the area. A smokers urn, only meets the requirement of an ashtray of safe design. Providers are under the impression that if these urns are metal that they meet the requirement of the container with a self-closing cover
Metal self-closing containers for disposing of cigarette butts and ashes from ashtrays, and ashtrays of noncombustible material and safe design, shall be provided in all areas where smoking is permitted as required in NFPA 101, 18/19.7.4.
- Facilities need to have a zone evacuation plan in their fire emergency procedures
The administration of every health care occupancy shall have, in effect and available to all supervisory personnel, written copies of a plan for the protection of all persons in the event of a fire, for their evacuation to areas of refuge, and for their evacuation from the building when necessary. All employees shall be periodically instructed and kept informed with respect to their duties under the plan. A copy of the plan shall be readily available at all times in the telephone operator’s position or at the security center. The provisions of 19.7.1.2 through 19.7.2.3 shall apply. 2000 NFPA 101, 18/19.7.1.1.
A written health care occupancy fire safety plan shall provide for the following: 1) Use of alarms 2) Transmission of alarm to the fire department 3) Response to alarms 4) Isolation of fire 5) Evacuation of immediate area 6) Evacuation of smoke compartment 7) Preparation of floors and building for evacuation, 8 Extinguishment of fire. 2000 NFPA 101, 18/19.7.2.2.
CMS website: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/CertificationandComplianc/LSC.html
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) website: http://www.nfpa.org/
Extreme Heat Conditions
The Department of Health & Senior Services website contains helpful resources during extreme heat conditions. Please visit: http://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/hyperthermia/index.php
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance: Your best defense against heat-related illness is prevention. Staying cool and making simple changes in your fluid intake, activities, and clothing during hot weather can help you remain safe and healthy. Please visit: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/
National Institute on Aging Newsroom, NIH provides heat-related illness advice for older people: http://www.nia.nih.gov/newsroom/2012/06/hyperthermia-too-hot-your-health
Improving Disaster Planning in Nursing Homes and Home Health Agencies
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern Time) Conference Call Information: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/calls/
Participate by Phone: Dial: 888-790-6180 Passcode: 1281914
Participate by Webinar: https://www.mymeetings.com/emeet/join/index.jsp?customHeader=mymeetings&netId=PW7035569&netPass=1281914&netType=conference&acceptTerms=on
The CDC Emergency Communication System’s Clinician Communication Team manages the Clinician Outreach Communication Activity (COCA) to ensure that clinicians have the up-to-date information they need. COCA is designed to provide two-way communication between clinicians and the CDC about emerging health threats, such as pandemics, natural disasters, and terrorism.
National Scald Prevention Campaign
The Missouri Division of Fire Safety in conjunction with the National Scald Prevention Steering Committee
The Division of Fire Safety has made the Scald Prevention Brochure available for distribution. Fire Safety Inspectors will also distribute the brochure when they conduct facility inspections. The brochure is printed in both English and in Spanish. Please visit the website for more information: http://www.dfs.dps.mo.gov/
Missouri launches new Web Site to help Missourians be prepared for tornadoes and severe storms
State Emergency Management Agency News Release: http://www.sema.dps.mo.gov/newspubs/template.asp?ID=N09120010
The State Emergency Management Agency announced Missouri has launched a new Web site to help inform and prepare Missourians for severe weather: http://stormaware.mo.gov/ includes detailed videos on how to take shelter in specific types of buildings, important information about tornado sirens and weather alert radios, and links to severe weather texting services that can alert people across Missouri to upcoming severe weather.
Long-Term Care Bulletin Spring 2012
The Section for Long-Term Care Regulation has published the LTC Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 1, Spring 2012. This issue is available on our website – please visit http://health.mo.gov/seniors/nursinghomes/providerinfo.php.
Emergency Protocol for Long-Term Care Homes
The Emergency Protocol was developed in 2007 for communication between long-term care homes and the Section for Long-Term Care Regulation (SLCR), in the event a disaster occurs that results in a loss of a necessary service. (Electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.) This protocol was established to streamline communication so that homes can focus on what is most important – the safety and well-being of the residents.
This protocol provides the cellular telephone number corresponding to the region in which your home is located if you experience a loss in a necessary service that has the potential to affect resident safety or well-being. You are encouraged to contact the regional office main office telephone number during normal business hours as survey staff carry the cell phone and may be conducting a survey or inspection during working hours and may not answer immediately. Please remember, this protocol is NOT to be used to self-report incidents normally reported to the Elderly Abuse & Neglect Hotline (1-800-392-0210).
|
Region |
Main Office |
Emergency Only Cell Number |
| #1 Springfield |
(417) 895-6435 |
(417) 425-8780 |
| #2 Poplar Bluff |
(573) 840-9580 |
(573) 778-6495 |
| #3 Kansas City |
(816) 889-2818 |
(816) 719-0089 |
| #4 Cameron |
(816) 632-6541 |
(816) 632-9371 |
| #5 Macon |
(660) 385-5763 |
(660) 651-1468 |
| #6 Jefferson City |
(573) 751-2270 |
(573) 619-3338 |
| #7 St Louis |
(314) 340-7360 |
(314) 623-2852 |
The State of Missouri map outlining the counties in each region is available at http://health.mo.gov/seniors/nursinghomes/providerinfo.php.
Additional resources for disaster and emergency planning are available at http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/.
If you have any questions about the Emergency Protocol, please contact the Section for Long-Term Care Regulation at 573-526-8524.
Resources for Joplin Tornado Victims
Resources for Joplin Tornado Victims – Some Joplin area residents are having difficulty with insurance claims related to tornado damages. Whether the insured is an individual or a nursing home, a complaint can be registered with the Missouri Department of Insurance at http://insurance.mo.gov/consumers/complaints/index.php or you may call the Hotline at 800-726-7390.