Although the DHH, CMS, and JACHO, FEMA and guide Louisiana hospital emergency preparedness plans, before hurricane Katrina, many of these regulations were more apt to handle an influx of patients, potential chemical warfare, or an armed intruder. These state and federal programs were not prepared to handle the extreme conditions and restricted communication dealt by the levee breaches. In fact many health systems were more prepared for a volcanic eruption than the flash flooding that occurred after Katrina’s passing.
Much of the hurricane response failures are blamed on the unpredictable nature of Katrina’s wrath. The damage and lost-lives resulting from hurricane Katrina is often explained as an unpredictable act-of-God that no one could …show more content…
As previously mentioned, according to Pre-Katrina, state license, federal accreditation, and industry standards, hospitals were expected to continue operating during a disaster. Although evacuation was an option, the primary priority for hospitals in hurricane preparation was to shelter-in-place (SIP). SIP was not only the usual protocol but it was and still is seen as the safest and most cost effective emergency management procedure. The SIP procedure as outlined in DHH, JCAHO, CMS, and FEMA preparedness plans outline thirteen components of an “effective community-based emergency management planning process and provided multiple planning strategies addressing each component.” Minimally a hospitals SIP protocols require medical staff to assess whether or not the hospital has lost any of its infrastructure due to the disaster. The SIP preparedness plan was sensible because most hospitals were built to withstand severe weather. Hospitals usually have enough backup power, medical equipment, and water to "stand alone" without outside power or water for some time. Particularly the JCAHO recommended hospitals stockpile enough supplies, food, water, and fuel for up to seventy-two hours. HOSPITALS MAY FACE STRICTER STANDARDS, 2005 WLNR 1474265. As exampled by Katrina’s aftermath, scarce resources were insufficient to stand against high demand of oxygen, vents, dialysis, pharmacy and home health care necessitate a more detailed approach to planning, mitigation, response and recovery
Much of the hurricane response failures are blamed on the unpredictable nature of Katrina’s wrath. The damage and lost-lives resulting from hurricane Katrina is often explained as an unpredictable act-of-God that no one could …show more content…
As previously mentioned, according to Pre-Katrina, state license, federal accreditation, and industry standards, hospitals were expected to continue operating during a disaster. Although evacuation was an option, the primary priority for hospitals in hurricane preparation was to shelter-in-place (SIP). SIP was not only the usual protocol but it was and still is seen as the safest and most cost effective emergency management procedure. The SIP procedure as outlined in DHH, JCAHO, CMS, and FEMA preparedness plans outline thirteen components of an “effective community-based emergency management planning process and provided multiple planning strategies addressing each component.” Minimally a hospitals SIP protocols require medical staff to assess whether or not the hospital has lost any of its infrastructure due to the disaster. The SIP preparedness plan was sensible because most hospitals were built to withstand severe weather. Hospitals usually have enough backup power, medical equipment, and water to "stand alone" without outside power or water for some time. Particularly the JCAHO recommended hospitals stockpile enough supplies, food, water, and fuel for up to seventy-two hours. HOSPITALS MAY FACE STRICTER STANDARDS, 2005 WLNR 1474265. As exampled by Katrina’s aftermath, scarce resources were insufficient to stand against high demand of oxygen, vents, dialysis, pharmacy and home health care necessitate a more detailed approach to planning, mitigation, response and recovery