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Disaster Preparedness: Limitations in Federal Evacuation Assistance for Health Facilities Should be Addressed
Date: July 2006
Author: N/A
Institution: United States Government Accountability Office
Bibliographic Entry: “Disaster Preparedness: Limitations in Federal Evacuation Assistance for Health Facilities Should be Addressed.” United States Government Accountability Office, GAO-06-826, July 2006.
Electronic Link: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=gao&docid=f:d06826.pdf
Key Words: American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Transportation (DOT), emergency operations center (EOC), emergency support function (ESF), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), National Response Plan (NRP), quality assessment performance improvement (QAPI), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
GAO chose to execute this study following the difficulties involved in evacuating communities during Hurricane Katrina. Concerns centered on questions regarding how hospitals and nursing homes plan for evacuations and on questions regarding assistance by the federal government. Broad-based congressional interest led GAO to assess the evacuation of hospital patients and nursing home residents. GAO examined: 1) challenges faced by hospital and nursing home administrators, 2) extent to which limitations exist in the design of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to assist in evacuating patients, and 3) federal requirements for hospital and nursing home disaster and evacuation planning. GAO also reviewed documents and interviewed federal officials, hospital and nursing home administrators, and state and local officials in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Charley.
GAO’s recommendations are that DHS clearly delineate: 1) how the federal government will assist state and local governments with the transportation of patients and residents out of hospitals and nursing homes, and 2) how to address the needs of nursing home residents during evacuations. DHS stated it would take GAO’s recommendations under advisement as it revises the National Response Plan.
Name of Researcher: Alison Stevens
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: May 15, 2008